Two men have been found guilty of the manslaughter of Damien McLaughlin in Enfield following a trial at the Old Bailey today (Tuesday, 31 October).
Eduardo Embalo, 18 (19.09.99), of Dowsett Road, N17, was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter and possession of an offensive weapon.
Andre Joseph, 25 (12.08.92), of High Street, Enfield, was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter and possession of an offensive weapon.
Both men will be sentenced at the Old Bailey at Wednesday, 1 November
The court heard how police were called to Exeter Road, near the junction with Arbour Road, in Enfield, on Saturday, 22 April at around 13:30hrs following reports of a fight in progress.
Officers attended with London Ambulance Service and London Air Ambulance and discovered the victim, Damien McLaughlin, 44, of Springfield Road, Cheshunt, suffering from stab wounds.
Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 14:16hrs.
Mr McLaughlin was attacked by three males shortly after he parked his van with his girlfriend.
A post-mortem examination held at Haringey Public Mortuary found the cause of death to be a single stab wound to the chest.
Embalo was quickly located close to the murder scene after the National Police Air Service spotted him in the vicinity acting suspiciously. He was arrested at the scene and Joseph was subsequently arrested at a nearby address several days later
Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command quickly launched an investigation, establishing key CCTV and mobile phone footage and witness statements that identified Embalo and Joseph as the men who had attacked Mr McLaughlin.
It is believed that the victim was known to at least one of his attackers.
Both were subsequently charged.
Detective Chief Inspector Larry Smith, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “This was a sickening attack in broad daylight, played out on the street in front of a group of horrified witnesses, including Mr McLaughlin’s partner. I can only hope this conviction gives some small comfort to Mr McLaughlin’s family and friends.”
Mr McLaughlin’s family said: “Firstly we would like to thank the police for all their dedication and support over the last six months along with everyone who came forward to secure these convictions.
“There are simply no words to describe the devastating impact losing Damien has had on our lives and all those close to us. We have lost a loving husband, father, brother and granddad and to lose him in such a horrendous way is still hard to comprehend. It has left a deep, heart-breaking void that cannot ever be filled and the sense of emptiness will live with us every waking moment.
“Those responsible for this evil act may be punished for what they have done but the suffering our family has had to endure, and still do, each and every day will last a lifetime. That pain will never leave us.”
= A third man Omar Warner, 18, of Marshside Close, N9 was found not guilty of murder, manslaughter and possession of an offensive weapon.