A man who stabbed and killed his friend following a drunken argument has been convicted of murder at the Old Bailey today, Friday 18 December.
Jamal El Manouzi, 52 (03.09.63) of Millicent Fawcett House, Pembury Road, Tottenham, was sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve a minimum of 15 years.
El Manouzi was found guilty of the murder of 45-year-old Ayache Bakir at his home address on the evening of 9 March.
The court heard how the pair has been friends for eight years but their friendship was punctuated by heavy drinking and disputes.
On the day of the murder El Manouzi and Ayache had met up and spent the afternoon in various bookmakers before going back to El Manouzi’s flat in Pembury Road to watch football.
Both men had been drinking and following the football and argument started between the pair which resulted in El Manouzi stabbing Ayache once in the chest.
At 23.27hrs El Manouzi called police from his home address stating he had stabbed his friend and that he thought he was dead.
Around 15 minutes later he walked into a shop in Tottenham High Road and told staff that he had killed his friend. Officers attended the shop and El Manouzi was arrested.
Other officers who attended El Manouzi ‘s address in Pembury Road found Ayache slumped behind a door inside the flat. Despite administering first aid, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 00:10hrs.
During police interviews El Manouzi claimed that he and Ayache had argued in the flat and that he feared the victim was going to assault him.
El Manouzi claimed he could not remember what happened next but that he next recalled Ayache having suffered a stab injury. He also admitted that the knife found next to Ayache’s body was from his kitchen.
Detective Inspector Luke Marks, who led the investigation by the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said:
“This is a tragic example of how using a weapon in anger can lead to devastating consequences.
“By all accounts, El Manouzi and Ayache Bakir were close friends who had known each other for a number of years. However, on the day of the murder the pair argued – this argument escalated, resulting in the needless murder of Ayache.
“Ayache’s family will have to live with the consequences of El Manouzi ‘s reckless actions – I only hope today’s conviction and sentence brings them some form of solace.”