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| Stabbed: Tesfa Campbell |
A needy cousin, who constantly pestered a relative for cash, clothing, food and cannabis, was sentenced to life earlier this month for fatally stabbing him as the pair strolled along the street.
Jerome Bailey, 40, plunged a blade into the abdomen of his second cousin Tesfa Campbell, 40, severing two major blood vessels and left him bleeding to death.
He was convicted by a Croydon Crown Court jury of murdering his cousin in Latchmere Road, Battersea on July 3, 2019.
The court ordered Bailey must serve a minimum of eighteen years behind bars before he can be considered for parole.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie said: “Bailey has never confirmed why this meeting between the two cousins ended with Tesfa losing his life at the hands of another family member.
“However, it is clear that Bailey’s violent attacks had devastating consequences, which will continue to have an impact on many people’s lives for years to come.”
Bailey, of Greenock Road, Streatham fled the scene with a distinctive bright yellow JD Sports stringed carrier bag and its contents, which Mr. Campbell had been carrying.
The jury were shown CCTV footage of the pair walking near Latchmere Leisure Centre at 2.45pm, where Mr. Campbell worked out daily, moments before he was stabbed.
Four days later police caught Bailey hiding out at a house in Victor Road, Teddington and in the rear summer house of the property they found two yellow JD Sports bags, along with evidence of cannabis and an Oyster card Bailey used to travel to the meeting.
Prosecutor Mr. John Price QC told the court friends and relatives of Mr. Campbell confirmed his relationship with Bailey had become strained in the weeks before he died.
“The two men were second cousins and knew each other very well and Mr. Campbell’s brother says they were close and that he had a ‘soft spot’ for Bailey.
“In the past he had helped him out by lending him money, but lately they had been arguing and Mr. Campbell told friends he was waiting for one final big argument and then he was going to cut him off.
“Relatives say Mr. Campbell always spoke of Bailey’s money problems and that he would call looking for money, food, clothing and cannabis.
“Mr. Campbell himself said he loved Bailey like a cousin and gave him money, but he always came back for more.”
The pair exchanged phone calls shortly before the stabbing and it was 2.45pm when passers-by saw them in a confrontation.
“Mr. Campbell was stabbed to death. It happened in broad daylight,” said Mr. Price. “The prosecution allege it was this defendant who stabbed Mr. Campbell.
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| Murderer: Jerome Bailey |
“That killing was an act of murder committed as part of a robbery.”
A passing estate agent dialled 999 and his call was played to the jury. “He’s just been stabbed. I saw the whole thing happen. There’s a lot of blood,” said the witness.
“The killer made off in the aftermath of the stabbing and Mr. Campbell collapsed to the ground at the scene,” explained Mr. Price.
He was rushed to King’s College Hospital, Camberwell, but was pronounced dead at 7.41pm that evening.
When Bailey was arrested he told officers: “What do you mean he’s murdered? How can I be under arrest for my cousin’s murder?
“F***ing hell this is a madness. How the f***ing hell am I a suspect?”
Bailey had also shaved off his distinctive top bun hairstyle.
After the trial Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding said: “I am pleased with the unanimous guilty verdict reached in this case.
“Unfortunately, we are still no clearer to know why a meeting between the two cousins has ended with Tesfa losing his life at the hands of another family member.
“This undoubtedly a tragic incident that will have a long lasting impact on Tesfa’s family and friends. The nature of the incident is deeply shocking and I hope that this verdict goes some way to help them begin to close this sad chapter.
“I also want to pay tribute to the members of the public who came forward to assist with the investigation and those who stopped to help after the attack.”
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