A young perpetrator who fatally wounded a man was apprehended after discarding a cigarette butt from a vehicle window at the crime scene. The DNA on the cigarette butt belonged to Ali Abdul Basit, leading detectives to track down and arrest him in connection with the death of Michael Afonso-Peixoto. Despite attempting to evade justice by fleeing to Venice, Dubai, and Egypt, Basit, aged 19, now faces imprisonment after being found guilty of manslaughter and robbery.
During the trial, it was revealed that Basit was part of a group of five individuals who ambushed Mr. Afonso-Peixoto in Thornton Heath, south London, under the guise of a drug deal. The victim was fatally stabbed multiple times as he bled to death on the driveway. The assailants also robbed Mr. Afonso-Peixoto’s girlfriend at knifepoint during the incident. DNA evidence from discarded cigarette butts left by four of the assailants helped in their identification.
Basit, a resident of Mitcham, south London, managed to evade authorities for 18 months before being apprehended upon his return to Luton Airport. Despite being acquitted of murder, Basit was convicted of manslaughter and robbery. The court proceedings also saw Zak Baako sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, John Budal receiving nine years for manslaughter and robbery, and Omari Peat handed a four-year prison term.
The court learned that Mr. Afonso-Peixoto’s family, of Portuguese descent, operated an electrical parts supply business called ‘Mikes Electrix’ while also engaging in drug sales through social media. Basit remains in custody awaiting sentencing on May 22, as the Metropolitan Police conducted a thorough investigation into the case.
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