Frith Street stabbing: jury gives guilty verdict on ‘devious killer’

Simon Ghebremedhin has been found guilty of the murder of Marjama Osman, who he stabbed in her home on Frith Road in May last year.

Ghebremedhin, 33, of Streatham High Road, was found guilty by a jury at Inner London Crown Court. The police described him as “a devious killer”.

Police and emergency services were called to Frith Road, off Church Street in Croydon town centre, just after 9am on Saturday, May 31 last year, following reports of a stabbing.

A passer-by had found the victim unconscious outside the property. Ghebremedhin was also present, with a knife injury to his abdomen.

Police attended with the London Ambulance Service. Ghebremedhin was taken to hospital and subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.

Osman, 26, was declared dead at the scene from a single stab wound.

Detective Inspector Aytac Necati, who led the Met’s investigation, said: “The evidence presented at trial was graphic and highly distressing, which meant Marjama’s loved ones were subjected to further torment and anguish.

“Ghebremedhin is a particularly devious killer, who went to great lengths to deceive police and the court. Thankfully, diligent detective work has exposed him as a liar.”

Osman and Ghebremedhin were known to each other. According to the Met, “On the day of the murder, Ghebremedhin attended the victim’s flat. There was a dispute between the two, and CCTV footage obtained by investigators from the location showed the defendant lashing out violently, smashing his own phone and banging loudly on the door.

“Marjama let him into the property, where he subsequently stabbed her. She was able to escape the flat, before collapsing outside.

“In hospital and at interview, Ghebremedhin told officers he had acted in self-defence after Marjama attacked him with a knife.”

Detectives studied local CCTV and established that Ghebremedhin had not shown any signs of injury during the incident. The prosecuters made the case that after following Osman out of the property, Ghebremedhin went back inside and injured himself in a bid to claim self-defence.

Evidence given in court by specialists determined that the abdomen wound was more likely to have been self-inflicted.

Ghebremedhin will be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday, April 14.

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