An internet cafe employee who slashed a teenage st
An internet cafe employee who slashed a teenage student to death with a machete was jailed for five years today.
(Tues)
Ibrahim Hussein, 45, hacked Christopher Abiaefo with the deadly weapon after the 17-year-old flew into a rage when the shop ran out of mobile phone cards.
The Somalian, a cashier in his cousin’s internet cafe and telecommunications shop in (69) West Green Road, Tottenham, severed Mr Abiaefo’s artery with a single blow.
Hussein denied intending to kill Mr Abiaefo, claiming he lashed out in self-defence thinking he was about to be robbed.
He was cleared of murder, but convicted of manslaughter following a trial at Southwark Crown Court last month.
The victim, from Ponders End, north London, walked into the internet cafe asking for a mobile phone card on the evening of March 2 this year.
Richard Horwell, prosecuting, said the pair began pushing and shoving each other as a scuffle broke out in the shop.
Shocked customers heard the two swearing at each other and one man held up his mobile in front of Hussein and dialled 999.
Hussein ordered Mr Abaiefo out of the shop, but when he refused to leave he grabbed a 12-inch machete from behind the counter and lunged at the teenager.
One of the computer users said the scene was ‘surreal’ as Hussein stood with the butcher’s knife dangling in his hand for all to see.
A blow from the weapon sliced through Mr Abiaefo’s left armpit and he staggered covered in blood into the street where he collapsed and died.
Medics battled to save his life, but the IT student had bled to death and could not be revived at hospital.
When police rushed to the scene they found the blood-splattered weapon hidden in the back of the shop.
Hussein claimed in court that Mr Abiaefo had pulled out a knife and punched him.
He said he was punched by Mr Abiaefo and at one stage was knocked out cold by the teenager.
Hussein said: ‘He was very aggressive and I thought he was going to rob me.
He was a trouble-maker.
‘
Richard Ferguson, QC, defending, said: ‘Mr Hussein is a good father and husband and will be missed when in jail.
‘
Jailing Hussein for five years, Judge Paul Focke, QC, said: ‘You committed a dangerous and unnecessary act.
‘On your part the victim was a troublesome character in your shop.
‘When he grabbed your coat collar and refused to leave you armed yourself with a machete and slashed at him cutting a blood vessel and artery under his left arm.
‘He rapidly bled to death.
‘People like you must be deterred from using weapons like you did that evening.
‘I recognise there is nothing I can say to the family after the tragic events that have taken place.
‘The only way I can deal with an offence of this seriousness is with a custodial sentence.
‘
Hussein, of (17) Sandford Avenue, Wood Green, showed no emotion as he was led away to begin his sentence.
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