Two 18-year-olds from Ilford have been convicted of manslaughter and robbery after a fatal stabbing outside a home in Walthamstow. Marvin Ward of Westwood Road and Alexis Morris of South Park Drive were found guilty on 17 December 2021 following a seven-week trial at Wood Green Crown Court.
Morris was also found guilty of carrying a machete in public. Both Ward and Morris were convicted of maliciously wounding Hussain Chaudhry’s mother and brother during the attack. Additionally, Anthony Nguyen, 18, from Belvedere, was found guilty of assisting an offender by helping Morris evade arrest. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, 4 February 2022.
The deadly incident unfolded over a fake designer jacket deal. Ward and Morris arranged to meet Hussain on 17 March at his Lea Bridge Road address to purchase a designer jacket he had advertised online. Accompanied by two of Hussain’s friends, the group went inside after Morris inquired about a smaller jacket size.
Instead of a straightforward sale, Ward and Morris pulled knives and threatened Hussain and his friends. Morris demanded to search upstairs for more jackets while Ward held the group at knifepoint downstairs. When Hussain’s mother returned home, chaos erupted. Hussain attempted to protect her, and his brothers confronted the intruders. The fight spilled into the street as Ward tried to escape in a waiting taxi with the stolen jacket.
During the struggle, Hussain was fatally stabbed in the neck. His mother and brother also sustained serious injuries. Ward fled the scene, and Morris escaped through an upstairs window.
Emergency services arrived quickly, but Hussain died at the scene despite attempts to save him. The Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command launched a swift investigation, identifying Ward and Morris through CCTV footage and phone data. Ward was arrested on 19 March, and Morris was apprehended two days later in Luton, with Nguyen’s assistance in evading police.
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Stubbins said: “Hussain’s murder shocked the community. He was a hardworking law student at SOAS University, just trying to make some extra cash selling clothes. Ward and Morris planned this robbery with machetes and fake money, ready to use violence if needed. This tragic death should never have happened over a designer jacket.”
He added: “This case highlights the deadly consequences of carrying knives to commit crime. Hussain’s family, who tried to protect him, now face the heavy burden of his loss both physically and emotionally. I pay tribute to the family and witnesses who helped bring justice for Hussain.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
