A 22-year-old man who stabbed his friend to death in a row over a phone — then filmed him as he lay dying — has been found guilty of murder.
Salah Ahmed fatally attacked his 18-year-old neighbour, Issa Ali Musa Abdularaman-Baracat, on Laitwood Road, in Balham on October 28, 2024.
Police were called to the scene at around 6am, where paramedics from the London Ambulance Service were treating Issa. He was taken to hospital but tragically died from his injuries later that day.
A murder investigation was immediately launched and within 10 minutes of arriving, officers identified Ahmed as a suspect and arrested him at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder.
Just minutes later, a kitchen knife was discovered outside a nearby flat — later confirmed to be the murder weapon.
Ahmed was found guilty of murder on Wednesday following a three-week trial at Kingston Crown Court.
Detective Chief Inspector, Brian Howie senior investigating officer from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said: “This is a tragic, senseless murder and our thoughts are with Issa’s loved ones. We hope that they feel some justice that Ahmed has been found guilty.
“Due to the quick work of Met officers at the scene, Ahmed was arrested swiftly and vital evidence was gathered. My team then put together a very strong case and proved that Ahmed killed his friend on the street.
“However, Ahmed consistently lied to officers and authorities, from basic details such as his age, to denying that he had killed his friend despite the strong evidence against him. He still hasn’t given a reason as to why he murdered Issa but we believe it started over a minor dispute about a phone.
“These lies added challenges to our investigation when it came to finding out about his background, history, and piecing the events together that led to Issa’s death. But we worked closely with our partner agencies to find this information.
“This is another violent criminal who has been taken off the streets. Ahmed took a knife out into public with the intention of using it. He had no regard for his friend or other members of public in the area.
“Despite his lies, we’re pleased he has been found guilty and justice has been served.
“Violence and knife crime will never be tolerated, and we are committed to making London a safer city.”
Police were called at around 6am on Monday, October 28 last year to reports that a man had been stabbed on Laitwood Road, Balham.
The court heard how both Salah and Issa were neighbours and friends who lived in the same building in Laitwood Road.
They were seen together in the early hours of October 28, with Issa visiting Ahmed’s room just after 2am.
Just after 5am, CCTV showed Issa going back to his own room.
Ahmed then retrieved the murder weapon from the kitchen area before heading towards Issa’s room.
An altercation took place between the pair which spilled outside onto the road before Ahmed stabbed Issa.
As Issa collapsed on the road, Ahmed fled the scene to dispose of the murder weapon. He returned shortly after and proceeded to record a video and take photographs on his phone with Issa dying in the background.
The emergency services had been called during this time and a member of the public assisted Issa until paramedics arrived.
Ahmed remained in the area, even filming the paramedics as they treated Issa, before officers arrived and arrested him.
After Issa died later that day, Ahmed was then re-arrested for murder while still in custody and charged with murder on October 29.
He will be sentenced on Thursday, September 25.
