A pair allegedly murdered a business acquaintance following a 50-mile drive with two young children in their vehicle to settle a dispute over owed money, as disclosed in court. Ben Wazabanga, 24, and Ronique Belfon, 23, are facing charges for the death of Ayowale Aladejana outside his residence in Monson Road, New Cross, south London, amid a deteriorating business deal.
According to Southwark Crown Court, the victim, 26-year-old Mr. Aladejana, had initiated a car rental venture involving both Wazabanga and Belfon as investors. However, prior to the tragic incident, the accused couple believed that Mr. Aladejana was in debt to them and had difficulty locating him.
It was reported that Wazabanga carried a hunting knife as he and Belfon made the journey from Bedford to south London on August 2, 2025, with their one-year-old and two-year-old children in the backseat. Prosecutor James Brown KC stated that Wazabanga fatally stabbed Mr. Aladejana in the chest with a knife he had brought to the scene.
Brown also mentioned that Belfon drove Wazabanga to locate Mr. Aladejana and parked nearby to witness the ensuing confrontation. Following the stabbing, Belfon swiftly drove Wazabanga away from the scene, briefly stopping to allow him to retrieve his mobile phone. The prosecution contended that the couple harbored resentment towards Mr. Aladejana over money owed from the troubled business.
Although the defendants deny the murder charges, the court was informed that their intention was not to kill Mr. Aladejana but to address their grievances with him. Wazabanga was armed with a knife, and Belfon allegedly knew about his weapon.
The court also learned that Mr. Aladejana had established a car rental firm named A2M2, with partners contributing vehicles or funds to the project. Wazabanga had invested in vehicle repairs, while Belfon had acquired two Mercedes through financing for business purposes.
Allegedly, Mr. Aladejana failed to meet financial obligations for the cars, causing Belfon financial strain and credit damage. It was claimed that Mr. Aladejana transferred the rental vehicles to another company, leading to further distress among those involved.
Messages exchanged between Mr. Aladejana, his girlfriend, and Belfon indicated escalating tensions over the business dealings. Both defendants, dressed differently in court, pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. The trial is ongoing.
