Wandsworth Man Found Not Guilty Of Omid Saidy Murder
While a 17-year-old is found guilty of manslaughter
A 17 year-old-boy has been found guilty of fatally stabbing Fulham man Omid Saidy, who confronted him about selling drugs outside his home in Parsons Green.
Omid Saidy
The teenage boy was found guilty of the manslaughter of Omid Saidy at the Old Bailey yesterday (Thursday, 10 May) following a trial. He was found not guilty of murder.
On the same day at the same court, Shafiq Smith, 19, of Laitwood Road in Wandsworth, was found not guilty of murder or manslaughter in relation to Omid, but he was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to Omid’s friend Oluwafemi Omotosho.
They will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 15 June.
Shafiq Smith
Police say they were called on Monday, 16 October 2017 at 7.37pm following reports of three males stabbed in the area surrounding Parsons Green Tube Station.
Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service and three men were found at various locations suffering from injuries.
One of them was Omid Saidy, 20, a voluntary youth worker from Fulham, who was pronounced dead in Parsons Green Lane at 8.30pm.
Omid’s friend Oluwafemi Omotosho was also found suffering from stab injuries, as was the 17 year-old.
At about 4pm that day, Omid was at home when he saw what he believed to be a drug deal happening outside. This had been a reoccurring problem and he went outside and asked the two males to find another spot.
They returned about 30 minutes later and Omid went back outside, this time with his father and brother, and once again asked the males to move on. They agreed and walked away.
At about 7pm, Omid’s father was alerted by his daughter that the males were back and were covering their faces with masks and hoods. He went out to investigate with his dog, when he saw Omid, who had left the house earlier thinking the situation was resolved, challenge the males and chase them away. Omid’s father followed behind.
During the chase, the two males produced knives and were waving them at Omid. Omid, also armed with a knife, said he would not be intimidated by them and he wanted them out of the area.
Omid called his friend Omotosho for help. Omotosho arrived a short time later and joined the chase on his moped. He also had a knife.
There was an altercation between the three, which resulted in Omid receiving fatal injuries. It is believed Omid stabbed the 17-year-old during the altercation.
Omotosho drove at the males on his moped in a bid to defend his friend, but he lost control and crashed into some parked vehicles.
Omotosho fell to the ground and was defenceless when Smith approached him and stabbed him in the chest. Both suspects then fled the scene.
Oluwafemi Omotosho
At this point, Omid’s father caught up and found his son collapsed near Parsons Green Tube Station. Despite emergency treatment, Omid died at the scene. He had been stabbed four times, in his neck, torso and buttock.
The 17-year-old ran off in the direction of Munster Road and he was arrested just before 8pm. During his attempted escape, he disposed of a knife in a road drain nearby. He had also been stabbed during the altercation.
The knife used by the boy was recovered from the drain by officers during a search on 17 October and it was found to have Omid’s blood on it.
During his initial interviews, the 17-year-old said he knew nothing of what happened, but during subsequent interviews he said he was a victim of crime, mostly giving no comment answers to further questions.
Officers carried out extensive CCTV enquiries and saw one of the suspects, later identified as Smith, make his way onto the Fulham Court Estate following the incident clearly carrying a knife.
Smith went on the run but thanks to a successful operation by officers and partners, he was located and arrested on 19 October. He gave a prepared statement where he admitted presence at the scene, but said he acted in self-defence and may have stabbed the moped rider. He gave no comment answers to all questions asked.
Smith and the 17-year-old were caught on CCTV together several times in the area that day.
Oluwafemi Omotosho, 19, of Pearscroft Road was arrested and charged with possession of a bladed or sharply pointed article in a public place and affray. He previously pleaded guilty to these charges on 23 October 2017 and was remanded to be sentenced at the same time as Smith and 17-year-old.
Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, who led the investigation, said, "Omid tragically lost his life for simply asking some drug dealers to move on from outside his home. Omid's family are heartbroken to have lost a loving son and brother. Omid’s poor father witnessed his death.
"Omid was a voluntary youth worker who wanted to make young people's lives better. His loss has left a huge gap in the community.
"Smith and the 17-year-old have failed to show any remorse for their actions. The defendants clearly wanted to fight and that they were more than prepared to use excessive force when the opportunity arose - even in a busy high street.
"The local residents and witnesses have been so supportive and Omid’s family are indebted to you for stepping forward.
"We have decided to release the images of the weapons involved to challenge the consciousness of those knife carriers who might be minded to walk out the front door armed with a knife today. There is no reason why you would have such weapons at home let alone on the street, other than to inflict serious injury or kill.
"For a very small section of our community, such knives have become as normal as your mobile phone. You need to reprogram and appreciate that carrying that weapon is your one way ticket to a significant sentence or life in prison or, as often happens, you become the victim.
"We pick up the pieces and those convicted and sentenced are quickly forgotten by the outside world. You will be talked about for a few weeks and then your friends move on.
"It also horrifies me that this is what our brave officers are facing when they deal with these very small sections of community."
In a statement Omid's family said: "Nothing will bring back out our beloved son Omid and we don't feel that justice was fully served with the verdict. However, we as a family hope that this conviction goes some way to showing the young people out there that carrying a knife in public has serious consequences. We pray that no other family has to go what we have gone through."
May 11, 2018