Man found guilty of stabbing murder

A man has been found guilty of murdering a 20-year-old in Clapton, east London.

Raynolph Asante, 23, of Pembury Road, Hackney, was convicted on Thursday of killing Jason Romeo after a trial at the Old Bailey.

Mr Romeo was found stabbed outside an address in Bodney Road at about 18:00 GMT on 18 February.

Asante attacked Mr Romeo after a violent confrontation earlier that evening, which stemmed from a fallout about a girl, the Met Police said.

He will be sentenced on 23 January.

Police said CCTV footage was limited, but officers widened their inquiries to include vehicles seen at the scene. Analysis of phone data then led detectives to identify Asante as a person of interest.

Further house searches uncovered more evidence, but the suspects remained at large until a media appeal which resulted in Asante handing himself in, the Met said. He was arrested three days after Mr Romeo's killing and charged on 23 February.

Four other men who were also charged with Mr Romeo's murder were found not guilty.

They are Joshua Ogedengbe, 20, of Brownhill Road, Travis Mitchell, 23, of Bodney Road, Hackney, Rhamyah Bailey-Edwards, 22, of Williams Avenue, Walthamstow, and Renaldo Roberts, 26, of Hobbs Place Estate, Hackney.

Mr Romeo's family said: "The last 10 months have been the most difficult of our lives but we are so relieved that today we have got justice for Jason.

"Jason will always be remembered, forever missed and, as I used to tell him every day, always be loved."

Det Supt Kelly Allen, who led the investigation, said: "This was a senseless act of violence that cost a young man his life. Jason Romeo was just 20 years old, and his family and friends are now left to face the devastating impact of his loss.

"During a confrontation, Raynolph Asante chose to retaliate with deadly force, gathering others to confront Jason and ultimately stabbing him in the street.

"There is no justification for such brutality."

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