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Desmond Wilson and Mohamed Ali Maslah |
Minicab driver’s killer must spend 15 years behind bars
Victim’s widow in tears as judge passes life sentence for ‘savage attack’
The killer of a minicab driver this week began a life sentence.
After repeatedly stabbing his victim, Desmond Wilson claimed: “I was only defending myself.”
But Old Bailey jurors convicted him of murdering father-of-five Mohamed Ali Maslah, a 41-year-old refugee from Somalia who lived with his family at Wendling estate in Gospel Oak.
Unemployed Wilson, 22, of McIndoe Court, Sherborne Street, Islington, had previous convictions for armed robbery and possessing knives.
Passing sentence, Judge Anthony Morris, QC, ordered him to serve a minimum 15 years but warned that he might be in jail for longer, depending on the view of the Parole Board.
“In carrying out that savage attack you intended to kill Mr Maslah,” he said. “I am satisfied you were in no way frightened of him.”
Courts had to do all they could to protect people in vulnerable occupations, Judge Morris added.
Mr Maslah’s widow, in court in tears to hear the verdict, had been “devastated” by her loss.
“He would still be alive today if you hadn’t drawn that knife,” the judge told Wilson.
While doing a late shift at a minicab firm in Archway, Mr Maslah picked up Wilson on May 5 to take him and his girlfriend, Melissa Rose, to his home in Islington.
At the end of the
journey the two men got into a row over a demand for a £5 excess fare, said prosecutor Sir Allan Green, QC.
Wilson, much bigger, younger and stronger than Mr Maslah, began to “goad” the victim before overpowering him and knifing him in the back, the court was told.
“The dispute about the fare led to violence. The driver was stabbed 11 times,” said Sir Allan.
“One of the wounds proved fatal and was to the heart. Others included six to the back, two to the head and others to the neck and arms.”
Counsel added: “Murder is established here. He was not acting in reasonable and necessary self-defence. He had every opportunity to get away to the safety of his own flat.”
After Mr Maslah had “foolishly” driven at him – he easily got out of the way – and took up a
metal tube, weighing only ounces, to use when he saw the knife, Wilson used his blade “for revenge and retaliation”.
Four key eye-witnesses were allowed to give evidence from behind screens and with their identities withheld.
“A number of people living in the area heard Miss Rose shouting and screaming hysterically,” said Sir Allan.
“She was trying desperately to get Wilson into the block but he refused to go.”
Wilson fled to his mother’s home on the nearby Packington estate, where he was arrested the following day.
He claimed he carried a knife for protection against gangs and that he had been “completely wasted” on champagne and cannabis on the night of the murder. |
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