Teenager Convicted After Cigarette Butt DNA Links Him to Fatal Stabbing
Ali Abdul Basit, a 19-year-old from Mitcham in south London, has been found guilty of manslaughter and robbery following a violent attack that resulted in the death of 27-year-old Michael Afonso-Peixoto. The conviction came after a three-week trial at the Old Bailey, where prosecutors detailed how Basit's own carelessness led to his capture.
DNA Evidence from Discarded Cigarette Proves Crucial
Basit was one of five men who waited in a BMW car before ambushing Mr Afonso-Peixoto in Thornton Heath, south London. The victim had been lured under false pretences, believing he was meeting someone to sell cocaine. During the attack, Mr Afonso-Peixoto was stabbed five times, with one wound piercing his heart, causing him to bleed to death on a driveway.
As the assailants waited for the couple to arrive, four of the five men discarded cigarette butts from the car window. Forensic analysis later revealed that these butts contained traces of DNA, directly linking Basit and three others to the crime scene. Crispin Aylett, KC, prosecuting, stated: "For four of the five men in the BMW, those thoughtlessly discarded cigarette butts were to prove their undoing."
International Flight and Eventual Arrest
Following the killing, Basit embarked on a desperate international escape attempt, fleeing first to Venice, then Dubai, and finally Egypt. He evaded justice for 18 months before being arrested upon his return to the UK at Luton Airport. During his absence, the Metropolitan Police compiled extensive evidence, including phone data, to strengthen their case.
Mr Afonso-Peixoto, of Portuguese descent, ran a business called 'Mikes Electrix' supplying electrical parts but also sold drugs on Snapchat under the alias 'Mario Deals'. He was in a relationship with Charley Smith, who was driving him during the incident, despite also being in a long-term relationship with the mother of his child.
Co-Defendants and Sentencing
The trial also involved three other men:
- Zak Baako, 30, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 28 years.
- John Budal, 20, was found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter and robbery, receiving a nine-year prison sentence.
- Omari Peat, 23, was handed a four-year prison sentence.
A fifth assailant has never been identified. Basit was cleared of murder but convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter along with robbery. He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled for sentencing on May 22.
