A man has been convicted of the manslaughter of Jobari Gooden in Peckham.

Momodou Lamin Faal was found guilty of manslaughter on December 17, 2021 at Southwark Crown Court today.

The 28-year-old was found not guilty of murder and not guilty of possession of a knife.

Despite dressing up as a female and wearing a wig and getting a passport in another name and preparing to flee the country, Faal, of Lyndhurst Way in Peckham, was found.

It follows a call to police at around 3.15pm on December 17 over a fight outside a barber's on Choumert Road, near to Rye Lane, in SE15.

Jabari was found with stab injuries and was taken by ambulance crews to a hospital in south London in a critical condition.

He died at 6.08pm.

Detectives began CCTV enquiries that revealed Jobari had passed Faal at 2.48pm at the junction with Rye Lane and Hanover Park.

Jobari then went into a McDonald's restaurant with his girlfriend before leaving a few minutes later and encountering Faal again.

An altercation began and Faal stabbed Jobari a number of times in a sustained attack.

Faal then chased Jobari toward Rye Lane and Jobari was able to run for some distance before he eventually collapsed.

Faal stopped his pursuit and rode off on a bike given to him by an acquaintance.

In the days following the stabbing, Faal moved to a number of different addresses in an attempt to evade capture.

A passport in the name Omar Barrow was obtained for Faal along with a one-way air ticket from Manchester Airport to the Gambia.

However, homicide detectives were closing in and on December 23 they used a search warrant to enter an address in Gillingham, where Faal was found.

Faal had changed his appearance since Jobari's murder – he had cut off his dreadlocks so his hair was short.

When arrested, he claimed that his name was Omar Barrow and gave a false date of birth.

During interview, Faal answered no comment to all questions put to him.

Detectives uncovered that Faal had worn wigs and dressed as a woman to disguise his identity as he had moved around

Faal will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, September 16 for manslaughter and possession of an identity document with an improper intention.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, Senior Investigating Officer, said: "Faal claimed to have been acting in self-defence but was plainly the aggressor.

"He repeatedly stabbed Jobari in a frenzied attack in full view of horrified members of the public, who were shopping in the local market.

"Faal told the court that he was a drug dealer and he falsely claimed there had been a long history of incidents between the pair – but there was no justification for the disgusting violence that occurred that day.

“This was senseless loss of a young man’s life which has torn his family apart. Jobari’s Mum and friends attended every court appearance and were there throughout the trial.

"Jobari’s Mum will never get over the murder of her son, the plans they made together for their future will never now be realised.

"I want to pay tribute to her for the strength and resolve she has shown throughout what has been a truly harrowing trial. Our thoughts are with her today.

“My officers worked diligently to find and arrest Faal who was doing all he could to elude detectives.

"Despite all his efforts. we were able to find him, and put together a compelling case.

"I am glad the jury have been able to see through this web of lies and we have brought Jobari some justice.”

Jobari's mother Shawna Manboard said: My son, Jobari, was taken from me in the most brutal way.

"His life was taken in a place that he thought he was safe.

"We have still been given no reason as to why his life was totally destroyed and taken so senselessly.

"This nightmare has not ended.

"This has been incredibly painful, listening to the defendant blame my son for his own death.

"He has continued to show a blatant disrespect to his memory and our family. The damage that has been done has not only been to Jobari.

"Mine and our family’s lives will never be the same again.

“The day he died I died too and without him my life will be empty."

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