Teenager jailed for life over murder of ‘loved son, brother and friend’

A teenager has been sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in prison for the murder of a man in Wandsworth.

Elijah Roye, 19, of Carey Gardens, Wandsworth appeared at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday where he was given a life sentence for the murder of Abdirizak Hassan.

A group of males tricked 24-year-old Abdirizak, known as Abdi, into visiting an address in Roehampton in May 2021, where they attacked him and stabbed him in the chest.

In a statement, the victim’s family said: “Abdi was a well-loved son, brother and friend. He was a funny, clever, compassionate and big-hearted person. We miss him dearly and will cherish our memories of him forever.”

Police were called at around 11am on May 6, 2021, after a body was found at a residential property in a block of flats in Dowdeswell Close.

Abdirizak was found with a stab injury He had been attacked at the same location the afternoon before.

The group had arrived at the property, which was owned by a vulnerable woman, on the afternoon of May 5, 2021. 

The group used the woman’s phone to lure Abdi to the property, forcing her to claim she wanted to buy drugs from him.

When he arrived at around 5.20pm they ambushed him in an attack that “lasted several minutes”.

Muhammed Danso, 18, of Fieldfare Road, Bexley, was previously found not guilty of murder but was convicted of manslaughter. He was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found not guilty of murder but was convicted of manslaughter. He was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.

Pictured top: Elijah Roye, left, has been sentenced to life for the murder of Abdirizak Hassan, right (Picture: The Met)