Fatal Sports Bar Stabbing: Knifeman Guilty Of Manslaughter

Knife: David Joseph Johnson

A violent knifeman, who stabbed a “loving father” to death during an early hours confrontation between a large group of people outside a sports bar, has been convicted of manslaughter.

David Joseph Johnson, 37, was captured on CCTV waving the knife around – slashing a 37 year-old male across the arm – before plunging the blade into the abdomen of his victim.

Sadly, 34 year-old Bexley man Ibrahim Bah did not survive the injury, despite many people coming to his aid and paramedics rushing him to a local hospital.

Johnson, of Haddo Street, Greenwich, who was originally charged with murder, will be sentenced on February 13.

At Woolwich Crown Court he was also convicted of grievous bodily harm, with intent and pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article.

Mr Bah, described by his family as “a loving father and a wonderful brother,” died in the early hours of Sunday, May 1, last year as a result of a single stab wound.

At just after 2.00am on the same day a fight broke out following an altercation between a large group of people outside Belushi’s bar, next to Greenwich railway station.

CCTV footage played in court captured the moment Johnson pulled a knife from his waistband and began waving it around, inflicting an injury on his first victim.

He then made a beeline for Bah, and quickly stabbed him once in the abdomen. 

Bah collapsed to the pavement and was surrounded by people who came to his aid.

Ibrahim Bah

Officers and paramedics raced to the scene and Bah was taken to a local hospital – he sadly died an hour after the attack.

Johnson was identified by detectives, who reviewed mobile phone and CCTV footage of the incident, and the following day British Transport Police officers descended on an address in New Cross, to arrest him.

Detective Inspector Daren Bates said: “Johnson’s senseless and cowardice violence that night has resulted in the needless loss of a caring father.

“My thoughts remain with Bah’s family whose lives will never be the same. 

“While no verdict will ever be justice enough for them, I hope they can take some comfort in the fact that Johnson will be spending his foreseeable future incarcerated.

“This conviction is a result of tireless work by our investigative team who are wholeheartedly committed to ensuring Britain’s callous criminals are removed from society and put behind bars.”

Following the verdict, Ibrahim Bah’s family said: “Ibrahim was a loving father a great son a wonderful brother, and beloved to all those that knew him. 

“He is greatly missed by all, and the loss of his life is a tragic and unnecessary. 

“His son will grow up without his father and we all wish that this abhorrent knife crime will come to an end.

“We are happy with the result and believe that justice has been served. 

“We would like to take this moment to thank all the officers that have worked tirelessly on this case especially DS Paul Burbridge and Family Liaison Officer Jess Nye for all their support throughout this difficult time.

“To Allah we belong and to Allah we shall return.”