Leon Douglas convicted of Maida Vale stabbing murder of Khalid Marchoud
Leon Douglas, 45, was found guilty of murdering Khalid Marchoud at a Maida Vale block of flats in December. Sentencing is set for Friday.
Maida Vale murder conviction after Douglas stabbed stranger in ninth-floor flat
Leon Douglas, 45, has been found guilty of murdering a stranger he stabbed in the abdomen at a block of flats in Maida Vale, north-west London, bbc.com reports.
The victim, 40-year-old Khalid Marchoud, was attacked at a ninth-floor flat in Tollgate Gardens on the evening of 19 December. Douglas, of Watford Way in Hendon, was not known to Marchoud prior to the incident.
Witnesses at Harrow Crown Court described how Douglas demanded entry by shouting through a letterbox before becoming immediately aggressive. He armed himself with a knife from the kitchen and became involved in an altercation with Marchoud, the nine-day trial heard.
After stabbing Marchoud in the abdomen, Douglas fled the scene. The Metropolitan Police said he attempted to avoid arrest by disposing of the clothes he had been wearing, dyeing his hair red and shaving his beard to alter his appearance.
Officers tracked him down on 23 December at an address in Cricklewood. During his arrest, he attempted to escape by jumping from a ground-floor window.
The trial concluded on Tuesday, with sentencing scheduled for Friday.
Detective Inspector Sarah Philippe, who led the investigation, said in a statement: "This was a senseless and brutal act of violence which resulted in the tragic death of Khalid Marchoud. Our thoughts remain with Khalid's family and loved ones, who continue to live with the devastating consequences of Douglas' actions."
Philippe also thanked the witnesses who came forward, describing their assistance as "invaluable in helping us build the case that secured this conviction."
Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)