A 16 year old youth from east London has been convicted of murdering 18 year old Salum Komboin a knife attack in Bromley-by-Bow last December after an eight day trial at the Old Bailey. The convicted defendant was only 15 at the time and was reacting to an exchange of insults posted on the social networking site Facebook. He has been remanded for background reports until 22 June. He faces a sentence of youth custody for life. The jury returned its verdict after more than a day of deliberation (Wednesday 26 May).
The prosecuting QC David Jeremy outlined the background to the case at the beginning of the trial:
“A young man has lost his life by being stabbed following a petty dispute and a perceived loss of face by the perpetrator. In the days leading up to December 20 there had been a trade of insults and threats between these two boys both directly and on Facebook. At one stage the boy who died called (the defendant) a pussy. That insult appears to have particularly incensed him. It was the combination of a silly argument, (the defendant’s) over-sensitivity about his own dignity and status, and his own willingness to carry a knife that led to the events of December 20.”
Salum Kombo died a few yards away from his east London home after receiving one fatal stab wound to the upper chest. He was a well regarded, popular and talented art and design student at Tower Hamlets College.
The stabbing incident was not caught on CCTV cameras, but the movements of the victim and defendant before and after the murder were.
Salum was described by one of the boys to be speaking to the defendant and moving his hands as though he were explaining something along the way, although what was being said could not be heard. The defendant was described as quiet and calm, with both hands in his pockets. Salum was also seen putting his arm around the defendant.
Two of the boys told the jury they saw the defendant with a knife moments after Salum Kombo was wounded, and two described actually seeing the accused stab Salum in the chest.
According to one witness, Salum and the defendant had a quarrel outside a youth club on the Friday before Salum died. There was a verbal exchange where Salum was heard to have said, “He doesn’t like me, he’s acting childish”.
One witness referred to a text message Salum had previously sent the defendant that had been perceived as an insult.
All five witnesses said that Salum was never known to carry a knife, though when giving evidence in his defence the accused boy said he had seen Salum carrying a knife previous to the evening of the stabbing.
The accused, who is from Bow in East London, admitted stabbing Salum in the chest but he argued that he had acted in self defence and without any intention to kill:
“When he put his arm around me, I couldn’t see his hand, so I stabbed him. I stabbed him because I thought he was going to stab me.”
During cross-examination the young man broke down in court soon after having said:
“I remember shouting because I messed up my life and I lost my friend. I thought to myself that what I did was messed up. It felt wrong and I regretted it. When I did it I thought “What did I just do?” After I did it, I didn’t know what I did.”
Detective Inspector Joe Daly of the Metropolitan Police said after the jury’s verdict:
“The tragic events which unfolded that night were the culmination of a combination of factors – a trivial argument, the defendant’s over-sensitivity about his own dignity and status, and his willingness to carry a knife. As a result an 18-year-old has needlessly lost his life and a 16-year-old is now set to spend his young life behind bars.”
Mr Kombo’s tragic killing just before Christmas 2009 was marked by a memorial site set up on Facebook and the publication of an image published by some of the national media. The judge at the Central Criminal Court has legal discretion on whether to lift the reporting restriction imposed under section 39 of the Children Young Person’s Act 1933 that prohibits the media from
publishing anything that could identify the accused or the school he attended.
Additional reporting by Katherine Godfrey.
Salum was a very loved, young, respectable, honest and lovely young man and he really didnt desereve to die like that. He was not ready to leave his family and friends. But now whats done is done and the murderer desereves all thats coming to him!! R.I.P SALUM KOMBO gone but never ever forgotten!! xx
Salum Was loved By Many and Was a very popular teenager.His Family and friends will miss him dearly.He will be remembered for all the poisitve things that he did in his life and how he helped others.It wasnt his time to go and he had many things to look forward to in his life he was also a talented art student. Love you Salum Kombo (Top G). Rest In Peace
Salumm Babbyy Its sheree I hope Your Ok Up there partying it up and he was a lovely Boy 100 % Perfect he always smiled and made everyone laugh r.i.p One lOve x
SALUM.. Wot can i say.. i didnt no u 2tough but i knew u enough 2say u woz lovely n neva eva deserved dis!! e3rd misses u sooooooooooooo much-u will 4eva b in our hearts-ur name is livin on darlin. U woz my best friends, best friend n u no he misses u dearly g. U woz r little freshy lool. Der always remains a place 4u in bow and in our hearts truss b. R.I.Paradise xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
dear sulum i will always love you for what you did for me if it wasnt for you then i would be dead right now you was there for me when i needed you i just cant beleif i wasnt there when you was dieng dont wotch doe you will alwausz be remembered by me and my familly rest in peach sulum and never worie
salum a loved boy and the boy who toke him away is nothing anymore x rest in pease salum
i send my love to his fam
Hope your up there resting easy looking down on princess and the bubbas so proudly and smiling to see she actually has been able to live on from the tragic accident it’s so sad. You had to go but for now just stay watching down on us all and we shall all meet back up again one love Salum I really hope I get a cuddle again rip baby boy ❤️ Just know still till today 26/07/2023 your still here living in our hearts you little legend kingSalum