IT’S A NEW YEAR – but there’s no let up on the knife crime on East London’s streets. One of the last victims, possibly the very last victim, of 2020 has now been named.
Abiola Olalekan Akerele, 28, was stabbed on 29th December in Stondon Walk, East Ham, E6 just after 3pm on 29th December. Reports came in to the emergency services that a man had been assaulted, and the Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service attended, together with the London Air Ambulance.
Despite the best efforts of them all, Abiola was pronounced dead at the scene. A post mortem later established that the cause of his death was a stab wound to the heart.
The first arrest was made the same day. Just after 11pm, police officers arrested Rayhan Yasin Ali, 18, of Abbots Road, E6 on suspicion of murder. He was charged with murder on 1st January.
The same day, two more people were arrested on suspicion of murder: a 17 year old woman and a 20 year old man. They were held in custody.
Detective Inspector Joanna Yorke from the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Command (Homicide) said, “Our investigation is continuing at pace and we are working tirelessly to give Abiola’s family the answers they deserve. This murder took place in daylight, in a residential area, at a time when we know many people were in their homes. I believe that there will be people in the local community who either saw, heard or know something about this incident. I urge those people to get in touch.”
●Anyone who witnessed the murder, was in the area at the time, or who has any other information which may assist police is asked to contact them via 101 and quote reference CAD 3667/29DEC. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111 and give information anonymously.
●Read more about it: Hackney killing leads to long jail term Fourth man guilty of murder in Barking