Southall Somalian Stabbing: Thirteen Years For Killer

13 Years: Ilyaas Maalin

A killer involved in a Somalian gang stabbing on the suburban streets of Southall is starting a thirteen-year prison sentence.

Ilyaas Maalin, 23, was one of five young men armed with knives and bats who killed 29 year-old Gus Fenton in west London.

He fled to Holland in a failed bid to avoid justice and was extradited back to the UK approximately four years after the killing.

The victim was strolling to his local betting shop when attacked by the brutal gang - some of whom are still wanted - on two separate occasions. 

Maalin faced a murder trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, where a jury convicted him of the lesser offence of manslaughter.

He received ten years and nine months on that count, plus another two years and three months after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

At the start of the trial prosecutor Bill Emlyn-Jones told the jury Gus left his home on March 28, 2017 for his local betting shop.

“He was being followed by a group of five much younger men, specifically looking for him.

“Once they found him there was a short meeting that ignited into violence in broad daylight in a busy high street, crowded with pedestrians and drivers.

“Mr Fenton was chased and caught and he was punched and kicked, lasting a few seconds,” continued the prosecutor. “He was not seriously injured at that stage and the group of five headed off.”

Gus phoned his brother Elijah, 35, and began walking home, but was confronted by the same group a second time.

Stabbed: Gus Fenton

“They attacked him again and some had armed themselves and the attack was significantly more violent.”

By now Elijah had driven to the scene, explained Mr Emlyn-Jones. “He sees his brother attacked by the group armed with knives and bats and other objects.

“They turned their violence onto Elijah and he was stabbed, but Gus was not lucky, he had serious injuries six separate stab wounds.”

Sadly, Gus died the next morning.

“There is no dispute this defendant is one of the young men involved,” the prosecutor told the jury. “The extent of his involvement is for you.

“Within a few days of the murder the defendant went to Holland to avoid arrest and trial, the prosecution say.

“He was returned to the UK last year.”

The jury will viewed CCTV images of the attack during the trial.

“All five are acting together as a team, each playing a part by causing serious injuries or helping and encouraging those doing the stabbing and inflicting the injuries.

“The CCTV will show group violence by five friends acting together.”

Another gang member, 29 year-old Mohamed Abdillahi is serving an eighteen year sentence for manslaughter and violent disorder.

Wanted: Three Suspects

Three more males are still being hunted by police, who have released CCTV images of the suspects.

The Somalian-born trio have all been identified by the police as Mohamed Abdulhi Abdi, 27; Mohamed Abdi Mohammed, 23 and Mohammed Mohammed, 23.

They are all believed to have left the UK.

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin of Specialist Crime said: “Despite the convictions of these two men our murder investigation continues.”