A Somali asylum seeker who strangled a friend with
A Somali asylum seeker who strangled a friend with a pair of trousers after a late-night drinking session has been jailed for life.
Abdulahi Ahmed, 39, predicted his fate when called police and said: ‘I know where I am going – a life sentence for murder,’ the Old Bailey heard.
The court heard alcoholic Ahmed had known victim Hamza Ahmed, 25, for five years and had fought him several times.
Prosecutor Ed Brown said: ‘They would always argue and fight particularly when he was in drink which was often the case.
‘
Mr Brown told the court the defendant had served nine months in prison in 2001 after the pair came to blows over money in December 2000.
‘The defendant attacked him with a candlestick on the forehead.
He was very badly injured, received 21 stitches and was in a coma for 21 days.
‘But from time to time Hamza would aggravate when in drink.
‘The defendant would say from time to time he would kill Hamza Ahmed.
‘He said: ‘One day he will die in my hands’.
‘The last time he said this was three to four months before Hamza Ahmed’s death.
‘
In the early hours of December 28, 2002, a neighbour heard ‘shouting and feet shuffling.
‘ at Ahmed’s flat in Westbourne Park Road, Kensington.
‘By this time the defendant had killed Hamza Ahmed in his flat,’ said Mr Brown.
‘When the victim was found lying on the floor the legs of the trousers were around his neck with a knot at the back of the neck.
‘He killed the victim by strangulation.
He tied the trousers around the neck using the legs as a ligature.
‘
At 1.
53am the defendant called the emergency services and confessed to killing the father of four.
When the police arrived he said: ‘I hit him, I killed him.
‘I did a good job.
I choked his neck.
It took ten minutes.
I know where I am going – a life sentence for murder.
‘
Defending, Stephen Solley QC, said: ‘It is perfectly obvious that alcohol is at the root of this.
‘In this country away from his people and in a perceived position of hopelessness, alcohol took over.
‘He expects he will serve a great deal of time in prison as a result of his actions.
‘Men in drink have a condition for potential violence on both sides.
‘The deceased would become extraordinarily disruptive and and aggravate.
‘This came about as a result of a long-standing and consistent course of conduct by the deceased.
‘
Blood alcohol tests carried out after the incident showed both men to be around three times over the legal driving limit.
Ahmed admitted murder on December 28, 2002.
Judge Anthony Morris, QC, told him: ‘You have pleaded guilty to the murder of Hamza Ahmed.
‘You are a Somalian who came to this country in 1989.
‘Unfortunately you developed a long-standing dependency problem.
‘It is clear that the two of you had a very violent relationship.
‘You both had a serious drink problem and when you drank you argued and fought.
‘It was open to you to prevent him coming to your home, to prevent him taking part in these sessions but you never did so.
‘In December 2000 during one such session you attacked Hamza Ahmed hitting him on the head several times with a candlestick.
‘He was in a coma for three days.
‘On December 20, 2001 you pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
‘You were heard on more than one occasion to make threats to kill Hamza Ahmed.
‘The present incident tool place just over 12 months after that sentence was imposed.
‘I am satisfied you still pose some risk to the public.
‘The only sentence that exists in this case is one of life imprisonment and that is what I serve on you today.
‘
Judge Morris ordered Ahmed should be deported after serving the sentence.
ends
