Teens jailed for drug dealer killing

BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

Two teenagers who stabbed a man to death in an unprovoked attack as he tried to sell them drugs have been found guilty of manslaughter.

Adam Chambers had driven his moped from his home to do the deal – only to be stabbed within seconds of arriving. His killers had been recording rap tracks at an address in Lee before arranging a rendezvous with the 30-year-old.

He drove off on his moped within 10 seconds of arriving – but soon collapsed and died at the scene.

Felou Abadja, 19, of Pinnell Road, Kidbrooke, and a 16-year-old boy were found guilty of manslaughter and possession of an offensive weapon – a knife which was found to have Adam’s blood on it – following a trial at the Old Bailey.

Abadja previously pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine. The 16-year-old previously pleaded guilty to possession of a knife and possession of heroin.

They will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, February 2, 2018.

Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at about 5.45pm on June 13 to a man stabbed behind Phipps House, off Woolwich Road, Charlton.

Officers and paramedics rushed to the scene to find Adam injured. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.27pm.

A post-mortem examination held on June 14 gave cause of death as a stab wound to the chest.

The court heard that on the afternoon of June 13, Abadja, the 16-year old and a 15-year-old girl were at an address in Lee High Road, recording rap music.

Abadja called a taxi at 5pm and asked to be taken to Troughton Road – which is very close to where Adam was fatally stabbed.

The driver and the girl waited in the cab in Troughton Road when Abadja and the 16-year-old got out of the taxi. The two males walked to nearby Phipps House and waited near Hartwell House.

Adam had left his home on his moped at about 5.35pm on  June 13 and rode to the area of Phipps House, arriving at 5.42pm when he met Abadja and the 16-year-old.

Just ten seconds later, the moped was seen to leave the area. During those 10 seconds, Adam was stabbed. He managed to drive a very short distance before collapsing. He was found by a passer-by who called the emergency services.

Abadja and the 16-year-old fled to the waiting taxi.

The driver noted that they seemed in a hurry, saying ‘let’s go boss’. They also switched their destination to Blackwall Lane, Greenwich, and they were dropped off by some flats.

Officers carried out enquiries and Abadja was identified as a suspect.

Abadja was located on Sunday, June 18 at an address in Pinnell Road, after officers forced entry into the property – he was arrested and found to be in possession of a wrap of cocaine. Once at the police station, Abadja tested positive for the drug.

Abadja initially made no comment during interview, but later produced a prepared statement. He placed himself at the scene but said it was the male he was with, the 16-year-old, who became involved in a fight with Adam.

Abadja told officers he was talking to his regular cannabis dealer when the stabbing took place, and he was some distance away. He said he saw his associate produce a knife and stab the victim.

He told officers he did not know this was going to happen.

Abadja was charged with murder and possession of cocaine in the early hours of Tuesday, 20 June. The teenager, who was aged 15 at the time, was arrested on Wednesday, June 21. He was found to be in possession of a large knife and four wraps of heroin.

He answered no comment to all the questions put to him in interview.

The knife was analysed by an expert who concluded the knife found in his possession was the same one that fatally stabbed Adam. Traces of Adam’s blood were found inside the bag the 16-year-old was wearing upon his arrest.

The teenager was charged on Thursday, June 22 with murder, possession of a knife and possession of heroin.

Detective Superintendent Lee Watling, of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, who led the investigation, said: “This was a vicious, unprovoked attack on the victim who was unable to defend himself.

“I hope the conviction gives Adam’s family some measure of closure and comfort.”