‘Abdullah’s death destroyed our family’

BY NEWS REPORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

The family of a murder victim have described for the first time how their lives have fallen apart since he died

Abdullah Hammia died after being stabbed in the heart in Melody Road, near the junction with Allfarthing Lane, in Wandsworth on April 25 last year.

Police have released a new photograph of the victim as they continue to appeal for information about his murder.

A reward of up to £10,000 is being offered for information given to the independent charity Crimestoppers which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Abdullah Hammia’s murder.

His mother, Linda Malika, said: “When my son, Abdullah, was murdered nine months ago, it destroyed my whole family. There is not a day goes by that we don’t think of him and miss him. The person responsible for his murder is still walking free and carrying on with his life. Someone out there must know something. We urge anyone who may have any information, however small, that may help the police in this case, to please come forward so we as a family can get justice for Abdullah and then we may be able to start to rebuild our lives.”

Police were called at 7pm on Tuesday, April 25 to reports of a man stabbed in Melody Road, near the junction with Allfarthing Lane. Officers, paramedics and London’s Air Ambulance rushed to the scene, but Abdullah was pronounced dead at the scene at 7.30pm. The victim was a passenger in a grey Hyundai car, along with two other men. His vehicle arrived in convoy and stopped in Melody Road, near the junction with Quarry Road.

At this point Abdullah was involved in a heated argument with a group of men – including at least one who had got out of a black Volkswagen Passat. An argument quickly escalated, at which point Abdullah was fatally stabbed in the heart.

Detective Inspector Will White, from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, added: “We need the help of the public to take a killer off the streets. It’s not fair that they continue to live their life freely, whilst the family of the victim have to suffer.

“If you saw anything or have heard anything since, please contact police on 101. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or through the non-traceable anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org”

Two men were sentenced on November 10 for perverting the course of justice in relation to the murder of Abdullah.

Fabian Reid, 22, of Queen Adelaide Road, Penge, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice on November 3 following a trial at the Old Bailey. He was jailed for 18 months.

Tre Henry, 22, of Cheshire Close, New Cross, had pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice on the first day of the trial on October 24. He was sentenced to five years and 10 months’ imprisonment.

A third man, aged 25, was found not guilty of perverting the course of justice. A 30-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman and 40-year-old man who were arrested on suspicion of murder have all have since been released with no further action.

Two 22-year-old men were charged with murder as part of the investigation. The CPS have since dropped the charges.