By Ashley Young-
A man has been convicted of murdering 18-year-old Ghulam Sadiq in Leytonstone.
Emadh Miah, 18,(pictured) of Solihull Road, West Midlands, appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday (April 4) having earlier pleaded guilty to possessing of an offensive weapon.
He will be sentenced on a date to be confirmed.
Ghulam Sadiq was fatally stabbed in the back by Miah, who had set out on August 6 with a 15cm long machete hidden in his trousers.
The court heard Miah, then 17, waited for Mr Sadiq outside his family home in Leytonstone wearing a Covid mask with his hood pulled up tightly around his face and surgical gloves on his hands.
DCI Linda Bradley of the Met’s Specialist Crime said: “This is one of those rare cases where we have never been able to conclusively establish a motive for the crime.
“Miah tried to claim diminished responsibility, but the careful planning that went into buying weapons and his actions throughout the day of the fatal attack meant the jury were able to see through his deceit.
“Ghulam’s family have now seen the man responsible for his death brought to justice, but I know that their anguish and loss will be with them forever and our thoughts remain with them.
“The team worked quickly to identify and arrest Miah and to uncover the attempts he had made to purchase the weapons he used in the attack. I cannot help but reflect that large knives and machetes being sold online is open to abuse and lamentably continues to be a risk to the public.”
The court heard how Miah had tried to use false ID to buy knives prior to the crime. On July 23 he attempted to buy a 15 inch Rambo-style knife from a website but the vendor realised the identity document was false and the order was rejected.
Undeterred, the following day he placed an order with another website for two knives advertised as a ‘Fantasy Spartan Sword blackout version serrated-bade two piece set’.
The order was accepted and the knives were shipped to the defendant’s address in Solihull.
The knives could not be delivered and were left at the local post office.
The court heard how Miah, who was only 17 at the time of the murder, had tried to use false ID to buy knives prior to the crime.
On Saturday, 23 July 2022 Miah attempted to buy a 15 inch Rambo-style knife from a website. He provided a false name and a fake driving licence, but the vendor realised the identity document was false and the order was rejected.
Undeterred, on Sunday, 24 July 2022 he placed an order with another website for two knives advertised as a ‘Fantasy Spartan Sword blackout version serrated-bade two piece set’.
Again, he provided a false name and a driving licence. This time the order was accepted and the knives were shipped to the defendant’s address in Solihull. The knives could not be delivered and were left at the local post office.
There is no record to show that the knives were collected, but the knives that the defendant purchased bear a striking resemblance to the knife he used to stab Ghulam Sadiq.
Miah travelled from Birmingham to London on Thursday, 4 August 2022 and it is believed he was in possession of at least one of those knives.
It was on Saturday, 6 August 2022 that the fatal attack took place.
Miah had taken a train to Stratford where he hired a bike and then made his way to Leytonstone, where he was seen cycling around by a number of witnesses.
It was a sunny day, but Miah had pulled up the hood of his jacket, was wearing gloves and had his face concealed by a surgical mask.
Miah made his way to the street where 18-year-old Ghulam Sadiq lived and he waited.
When Mr Sadiq arrived, he was also on a bicycle, Miah took out a knife and Mr Sadiq cycled off.
Miah continued to wait for Mr Sadiq, this time with the knife in his hand, and when Mr Sadiq returned a short while later Miah ran after him and stabbed him in the back. Miah then went back to his bike and cycled off.
Mr Sadiq managed to run to a restaurant in High Road, Leytonstone where he collapsed.
Police were called to the restaurant at 14:16hrs to reports of a young male who had been stabbed. When police arrived members of the public were giving first aid to Mr Sadiq inside the restaurant.
Mr Sadiq was moved outside the restaurant for emergency services to try and save him, however at 14:39hours he was sadly pronounced dead.
The Special Post Mortem examination took place on Tuesday, 9 August 2022 at Haringey Mortuary.
The cause of death was sharp force trauma to the back, consistent with a bladed tool such as a knife. The wound was nearly 15cm in depth and had pierced Mr Sadiq’s heart.
An immediate investigation was launched by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime.
Miah took steps to evade detection, however officers were able to trace his movements and the clothing he was wearing while traveling was also visually matched to the clothing he wore at the scene of the crime.
On Tuesday, 9 August 2022 police officers located Miah in Walsall and arrested him upon suspicion of murder. He was interviewed but made no comment to all questions. He was subsequently charged with murder.
At court he admitted manslaughter but pleaded not guilty to murder.
The jury found him guilty of murder.
Scotland Yard said there is no record to show that the knives were collected, but the knives that Miah bought “bear a striking resemblance” to the knife he used to stab Mr Sadiq.
Miah travelled from Birmingham to London August 4.
He took a train to Stratford where he hired a bike and then made his way to Leytonstone, where he was seen cycling around by a number of witnesses.
He made his way to the street where Mr Sadiq lived and he waited.
Mr Sadiq cycled off but when he returned a short while later Miah ran after him and stabbed him in the back before he cycled off .
Mr Sadiq managed to run to a restaurant in the High Road, Leytonstone where members of the public gave him first aid before emergency services arrived just after 2.15pm.
He was pronounced dead at 2.39pm.
A post mortem examination on August 9 found the cause of death was sharp force trauma to the back, consistent with a bladed tool such as a knife.
The wound was nearly 15cm in depth and had pierced Mr Sadiq’s heart.
At court he admitted manslaughter but pleaded not guilty to murder.
The jury found him guilty of murder.