Five Years For One-Punch Killer

One-Punch Killer: Abdalah

A killer, who ended another man's life with a single punch during a late-night confrontation between two drinking groups, is starting a five-year prison sentence.

Mustafa Abdalah, 24, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 28-year-old Mahad Abdi Abshir in Castlehaven Road, Camden in the early hours of May 2, last year.

The men had met that evening on the streets of Kentish Town through separate associates.

The groups were drinking and witnesses described how Mahad became involved in an argument with Abdalah.

Initially, according to witnesses this argument appeared to be a friendly one, but it soon escalated and resulted in Abdalah punching Mahad to the face.

Mahad collapsed to the ground and Abdalah fled the scene while passers-by called for an ambulance.

He was taken to St. Mary's Hospital, but never recovered from his injuries and died there 48 hours later on the evening of the May 4.

A post-mortem examination revealed Mahad died from the head injuries he received during the assault.

Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC) launched an investigation and quickly identified Abdalah as the suspect.

He was traced to an address in Vancouver Road, Leicester where he was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Throughout his interviews Abdalah claimed he had acted in self-defence and only threw a punch after the victim attempted to attack him.

However, several witnesses contradicted Abdalah's version of events and he was charged with Mahad's murder.

Detective Inspector Andy Manning, who led the investigation by the HMCC, said: "From the outset Mustafa Abdalah has tried to paint a picture that he only acted in self defence when he attacked Mahad Abdi Abshir in the early hours of May 2.

"However, the weight of evidence was such that it clearly proved Abdalah was the aggressor.

"Whatever the trigger was for this incident remains unclear - what is clear is that Mahad's life was taken in a needless manner by an act of spontaneous violence.

"I can only hope that today's conviction brings some form of closure to Mahad's family."