A man who fatally stabbed his business partner after driving more than 50 miles to confront him with two young children in the vehicle has been convicted of murder.
Details of the Crime
Ben Wazabanga, 24, killed Ayowale Aladejana outside his residence in Monson Road, New Cross, south London, following a dispute over money put into a car rental venture. Southwark Crown Court was told Mr Aladejana, 26, had established the scheme, with Wazabanga becoming involved as an investor.
However, in the weeks leading up to his death, both Wazabanga and his partner Ronique Belfon, another investor, had battled to contact Mr Aladejana as the enterprise collapsed and accumulated debts.
On August 2, 2025, Wazabanga equipped himself with a hunting knife as he and Ms Belfon journeyed from Bedford to south London to locate their business partner. The court was told the pair made the trip with two small children in the car, with the youngsters remaining in the vehicle as the killing took place a short distance away.
Conviction and Sentencing
On Thursday, Wazabanga was convicted by a jury of murder and he now faces life imprisonment when he is sentenced on July 13. Ms Belfon, 23, was acquitted of murder, after she informed the trial she had no knowledge her partner was carrying a knife or planning violence.
Prosecutor James Brown KC informed the trial Wazabanga knifed Mr Aladejana in the chest, during a daytime confrontation which was partly recorded on a Ring doorbell camera. He scarpered after the stabbing, briefly returning to pick up the mobile phone he had dropped, before departing in the car Ms Belfon was driving.
Background and Motive
Mr Brown informed jurors that Wazabanga had a "real axe to grind against Mr Aladejana", having fronted money for vehicle repairs for the A2M2 car rental business. Messages revealed at trial illustrate the escalating efforts by Wazabanga and Ms Belfon to recover their losses and get in touch with Mr Aladejana.
Wazabanga claimed to have acted in self-defence when stabbing Mr Aladejana, but the court also heard evidence that he routinely carried a knife and had done so for around seven years.
Wazabanga and Belfon were apprehended by the police near Waterloo Bridge, central London, in the evening following the stabbing. Wazabanga has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing.
