By Eric King-
A man has been convicted of murdering a Londoner, he believed was responsible for attacking him at a birthday party.
23 year old Salman Ahmed of no fixed address was found guilty on Monday, 18 June of the murder of 21-year-old Lamar Stewart from Mitcham, after a four-week trial at the Old Bailey.
Ahmed was drunk and became involved in an altercation with another male, during the birthday party. He was asked to leave the property.
After Ahmed left, did the incident continued outside and developed into a more serious row. During these altercations, Ahmed received an injury to his buttocks and thigh. A while later, Ahmed came back to the party with other males, in pursuit of revenge. He was shouting that someone had stabbed him. Ahmed eventually turned to Lamar who had been sitting outside with a friend and accused him of assaulting him. Although Ahmed denied attacking him to Lamar, he was encircled by Ahmed and the few males who were determined to prevent his escape.
CHASED
Lamar eventually tried to escape the men, but was chased, stabbed, and assaulted. Ahmed was seen by witnesses above Lamar with a black bladed knife in his hand. He was also seen to kick him on several occasions to the back before crouching down over him and aiming blows down into the same area.
Ahmed was seen on CCTV minutes later heading with others for a cab rank in Mile End. His blood was later found on the rear seat of a cab he took to leave the area. He was eventually arrested on 1 December 2017 at a flat in North Road, Southend. He declined to answer any questions when interviewed by police.Ahmed was charged with murder on 2 December 2017.
Lamar’s family in a statement said:“Lamar was a fine young man with a zest for life and an openness and love for his fellow human beings. We struggle to understand why someone would want to hurt a soul like Lamar’s. A soul so pure, entirely genuine, kind and loving.
“Salman Ahmed has not given any explanation for his actions and has offered no apology or sympathies from the time he was arrested to when he finished giving his account on the witness stand. His violent and aggressive actions took a beautiful, kind, loving person from this world, one that is remembered with great affection and love by many and who is, and always will be, dearly missed by his parents, brothers, sisters and extended family.”
Detective Inspector Rita Tierney, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command said: “This was an absolutely tragic death of an innocent young man who was liked and loved by so many. Lamar was employed by Guys and St Thomas’s NHS and at the time of his death he had just received a promotion at work.
“I want to pay tribute to Lamar’s family whose courage and dignity has been incredible. I would also like to thank all those who have assisted the investigation.
“Ahmed was on a mission that night to exact violence. After causing a disturbance he was intent on attacking someone to seek revenge. Sadly the person he attacked was Lamar Stewart, an innocent young man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I know that Ahmed’s conviction will not bring Lamar back but I hope it goes someway to healing the pain of his loss felt by his friends and family. Ahmed is an extremely violent man and now faces a lengthy custodial sentence.”