Two men found guilty of murdering Rijkaard Siafa in Croydon. They ordered Guinness at a pub after the stabbing.
The fruit and vegetable market was closing down, and cleaners were starting their work. CCTV footage showed the men at Surrey Street and Fellmongers Yard. Siafa turned and ran into the yard as the men chased him.
The men reached for something in their trousers. They chased him down a narrow passage, and about 20 seconds later, they walked out. Siafa had been fatally stabbed by then.
Afterward, the men went to The Spread Eagle pub and bought three pints of Guinness. Reports indicate they paid with a £20 bill. The pub asked them to remove their hats.
The men left at 6:04 PM without finishing their drinks. Paramedics tried to save Siafa at the scene. However, he died at 6:28 PM.
Police arrested Walcott later in London. He maintained he wasn’t a murderer. Mali left the country four days after Siafa died, but police arrested him at Gatwick Airport.
Walcott and Mali both denied involvement in the stabbing. Walcott is from Norbury, London, and Mali is from Croydon.
A jury found them guilty of murder, and Walcott was also guilty of having a knife. The judge will sentence them later at the Old Bailey.
The third suspect is still missing, and they cannot legally name him yet. Judge Dhir spoke to Siafa’s family after the verdicts and recognized their terrible loss.
She acknowledged that seeing CCTV footage of his death was rough but praised the family’s dignity throughout the trial. She noted that CCTV footage can be difficult to watch, especially when seeing loved ones just before and after death.
She expressed her hope that the trial brought some closure to the family and thanked them for their courage.