Life in prison for murderer who knifed Ahmed Ahmed to death in Turton House, Plumstead

Osman Musa Muhamed, of Llanover Road, was found guilty today at the Old Bailey of murdering Ahmed Ahmed in Turton House, Barnfield Road in August, 2015.

The 20-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 22 years behind bars.

Mr Ahmed was planning a future with his girlfriend, who he had proposed to just two days before he was killed.

In a statement she said: "I later found out I was pregnant with Ahmed's child but then suffered a miscarriage.

"I am now living alone in the flat we chose together. This has changed my life forever."

His family said he had his "whole life ahead of him".

In a statement they said: "We have been left heartbroken and traumatised by Ahmed dying.

"We loved him so much, the pain will never go away and we will never be the same again."

Ahmed Ahmed had proposed to his girlfriend two days before he was killed.

Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Reeves said Mr Ahmed the set upon by a group of violent men "just metres from his front door".

She said: "It only took a few seconds to inflict the injuries that resulted in Ahmed's death.

“In that brief moment, they robbed a family of a much-loved son and brother.

"One of Ahmed's sisters found him lying in the doorway, something she will have to live with for the rest of her life.

“She gave evidence at the trial, along with a number of other witnesses, whose bravery I pay tribute to."

DCI Reeves said Mohamed was involved in drug dealing, and the group had gone to Turton House to attack another man when Mr Ahmed tried to stop the men.

During the trial the court heard that Mr Ahmed had been stabbed repeatedly in the thigh, and it is possible up to three different weapons were used, including a screwdriver.

He went into cardiac arrest at the scene and paramedics performed an emergency operation, which restarted his heart.

They rushed him to hospital and despite the best efforts of doctors he was pronounced dead just after 8pm.

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Prosecuting, Sarah Whitehouse QC, told the jury "Ahmed Ahmed had come downstairs and it seems simply opened the door to them.

"He appears to have had no idea of what was about to happen."

A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Ahmed died from multiple knife injuries.

Plumstead residents Hussein Roble, 18, of Wrottesley Road and Onyema Olisa, 20, of Malton Street, were today acquitted of the murder charge against them.

Joint enterprise

On the same day the Supreme Court ruled judges had been wrongly interpreting the joint enterprise law for the past years years, defence lawyers for two of the suspects accused of Mr Ahmed applied to have the charges thrown out.

The legal bid on behalf of Khalid Hashi, 23, nicknamed Van Damme, and Hamza Dodi, 24, was unopposed by the Crown Prosecution Service which took into account the joint enterprise ruling immediately after it was given.

The following day, Judge Paul Worsley ruled that the pair had no case to answer and they were formally acquitted in front of the jury on Monday February 22.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: "The CPS carefully considered the recent Supreme Court judgment (R v Jogee, Ruddock v R) and its impact on this case.

"In light of this and the evidence given during the trial it was determined that there were no grounds to oppose submissions of no case to answer for these two defendants."

Sazzad Khan, 20, of no fixed address was previously charged with murder and breach of an ASBO.

On Wednesday February 17 the case against him for murder was discontinued.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment for breach of an ASBO.

Police are still trying to trace 22-year-old Ismail Saleban, of Ritter Street, Woolwich, who may have left the country and travelled to Denmark or elsewhere in Europe.

Anyone who is yet to speak with officers and has information is asked to contact police on 020 8721 4868 or via 101. Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.