A
man has been convicted of murdering a Deliveroo rider who was fatally stabbed in south London.
Jacob Koutouan, 22, attacked 20-year-old Jaden Christie, stabbing him 12 instances close to his house in Stockwell Road on September 15 final 12 months.
He was discovered responsible of homicide by a jury at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday with police failing to establish any motive for the killing regardless of an intensive investigation.
Koutouan was remanded in custody to look on the similar courtroom for sentencing.
Mr Christie’s household mentioned in an announcement: “Jaden was an incredible and clever soul and had a lot life and fervour to offer. A sufferer to a mindless killer who viciously ended Jaden’s hopes and desires in a brutal attack.
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“His loss of life has left our household shattered to items, distraught, grief-stricken and disheartened over such a malicious act.
“Jaden wasn’t in a gang, in truth he was very anti gangs and feared the related violence that comes with it.
“Jaden was simply beginning out in life – he received a brand new job with Deliveroo solely two days earlier than his loss of life and had been accepted onto a development course on the day he died. Jaden had aspirations to personal his personal clothes line.
“Jaden beloved his household and was the life and soul of each room he entered. Such a constructive, vibrant life ended so younger with out attending to get pleasure from his future, flourish additional and begin a household of his personal. He’ll be in our hearts eternally however nothing will examine to bodily having him alive and right here with us.”
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Wood mentioned: “This is a tragic case the place one other younger man has misplaced his life to knife crime leaving an enormous hole in the lives of his family and friends.
“It was very clear that Jaden was topic to a vicious attack the place he was chased earlier than being stabbed 12 instances. Despite an intensive investigation, we now have been unable to determine why this incident passed off and why Jacob Koutouan selected to attack Jaden. In the face of all of the proof, Koutouan selected to compound the grief of these near Jaden with false claims of self-defence at courtroom, an account which was rejected by the jury.
“I want to spotlight the resilience proven by Jaden’s household all through what will need to have been an exceptionally troublesome courtroom course of. I hope the jury’s verdict will carry some consolation to them.”
