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."