A man has been found guilty of murdering a King’s College student near London department store Harrods.
Mohammed Al-Araimi, 20, the son of property magnate Sheikh Abdullah Al-Araimi, was fatally stabbed in an alleyway in Knightsbridge while out with his university friend Nasser Kanoo, now 22.
The pair had been out for dinner at Sale E Pepe after meeting outside the Bulgari Hotel close to Mr Al-Araimi’s family home
Prosecutors said Badir Al-Nazi, 24, and Arseboon Dilbaro, 23, targeted the pair in an attempted robbery in December 2019.
Mr Al-Araimi, a wealthy Omani student, was wearing a £34,000 Patek Philippe watch, while Mr Kanoo, who was also stabbed, had a £7,000 Rolex.
The attack, captured on CCTV, occurred just 20 metres away from the alley which connects Basil Street to Sloane Street.
Kuwaiti citizen Al-Nazi admitted manslaughter and having a knife but denied murder, claiming he did not mean to stab Mr Al-Araimi.
German national Dilbaro blamed the stabbings on his co-defendant.
Both men were acquitted of attempted robbery, but a jury at Inner London Crown Court on Friday found Al-Nazi guilty of murder and wounding Mr Kanoo with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
Dilbaro was acquitted of murder, manslaughter and having a knife but found guilty of wounding Mr Kanoo.
Judge Usha Karusaid adjourned sentencing until September 10.
The court heard Mr Al-Araimi and Mr Kanoo were attacked following a dinner at Sale E Pepe after meeting outside the Bulgari Hotel close to Mr Al-Araimi’s family home.
Prosecutor Anthony Orchard QC told jurors: “Unfortunately for them, the two friends, Mohammed and Nasser, were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Giving evidence at the trial by video-link from Bahrain Mr Kanoo described his friend as the “nicest guy” and said they were targeted in a “very sudden” and “quick attack”.
Mr Kanoo said it was “a very shocking moment”, adding: “This is something so sudden… My heart is racing.”
Mr Al-Araimi collapsed near the Harrods Christmas tree and was pronounced dead just 40 minutes after suffering a single stab wound to the chest, while Mr Kanoo needed stitches for a wound to his back.
Al-Nazi and Dilbaro both denied they had set out that night with the intention to rob.
Al-Nazi said he did not realise he had stabbed Mr Al-Araimi at the time, telling jurors he had wanted an apology after an Arabic insult was shouted at him when he asked for a cigarette.
