Hackney murderer stabbed man in heart over 'neighbourhood dispute'
A Hackney man has been found guilty of murder after stabbing another man in the heart during a 'neighbourhood dispute'. Jaden Sheriff attacked Robert Weston, 37, at a property in Hamilton Crescent, Harrow on February 26 last year.
The 20-year-old told police he acted in self-defence when Weston pulled a knife on him. This claim was soon disproven as witnesses saw Sheriff brandish a weapon following an argument between the pair.
Forensic evidence also found two stab wounds that could only be inflicted in a deliberate manner. A Met Police investigation uncovered a previous fall out which quickly lead to a spiralling relationship.
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Phone records showed Weston called 999 on February 23 - three days before his death - to report he'd been 'threatened in his own home'. Sheriff, of Forston Street, Hackney, was found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey yesterday (January 30) and will be sentenced on February 14. The Metropolitan Police made a self-referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) about its contact with Robert Weston just days before. The watchdog found limited information available to suggest the officers could have reasonably foreseen or prevented the man's death
DI Devan Taylor, who led the murder investigation, said: “This is a tragic case. Robert Weston lost his life, and Jaden Sheriff has to live the rest of his life knowing that he killed a man.
"He stabbed his victim over what was effectively a neighbourhood dispute. Despite the efforts of paramedics to save his life, Mr Weston was pronounced dead shortly after.
“This senseless murder has had a devastating impact on the victim's loved ones. They conducted themselves with great dignity throughout the trial, and my thoughts are with them at this time.”
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