Drug dealers left a former friend and then rival to die in a pool of his own blood when they stabbed and slashed him at least 15 times. Alimul Islam and Mofizur Rahman, both aged 21, carried out a “merciless attack” on Alimuz Zaman, 23, outside a newsagents in East London.
A large Rambo-style knife was used to stab Alimuz, who had only minutes before gone to the shop with his young niece to help her pick out sweets. He was stabbed a number of times causing “catastrophic” blood loss and was pronounced dead in hospital a short while later on May 26, 2019.
Islam and Rahman, who were both 19 at the time of the attack, denied murder, wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon but were found guilty by a jury. Appearing today (Monday, February 21) at the Old Bailey, they were sentenced to life behind bars.
Alimuz was well-known to the duo. He was a drug dealer on Poplar’s Burdett Estate and the two defendants had previously worked as his runner, before they established their own drug dealing business.
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Phone records showed they had been in regular communication in the months leading up to the “savage and relentless” attack, and had met up the evening before.
CCTV footage showed that around 12pm on May 26, the three men met outside Ozzy’s Newsagents in Mile End, and were involved in a confrontation with another group of men. Afterwards, the victim walked into the shop and bought a pair of scissors, which were found covered in his blood a few hours later.
Alimuz then walked home to be with his family, who were preparing a meal to break fast during Ramadan. While his sisters were cooking, he was sent to the shop with his young niece to buy ingredients. Footage recorded from the shop showed him helping his niece to pick sweets.
They walked home together, but Alimuz had forgotten an ingredient and returned to the shop, where he encountered Rahman and Islam again. He was viciously attacked, with distressing footage showing him running down St Paul’s Way, attempting to dodge blows and eventually falling to the floor.
Rahman was carrying a large knife, while Islam wielded a heavy wrench, which they both used to cause a number of injuries.
Shocked members of the public recorded the attack on their phones and a number of paramedics attempted emergency surgery in the road. He suffered wounds to his arm and leg, severing his brachial and femoral artery, plus 13 slash wounds to his chest and back.
In her victim impact statement, Alimuz’s mum said she had been forced to move away from the estate after enduring flashbacks, and the loss of her son had significantly impacted her dementia. His sister also spoke of feeling “helplessness and fear”, describing her younger brother as a “smart guy” who had been in the process of getting his driving licence.
Judge Leonard QC told the court: “I have no doubt that the reason for the violence lay in a turf war between the two of you and Zaman. You had been dealing in drugs since you were schoolchildren, at first helping Zaman deal drugs to customers and then to return with the money.
“When Zaman went to prison in February 2017 you decided to become drug dealers yourselves on the estate that Zaman once controlled. When Zaman was released on licence in February 2019, he found that he had lost his estate to you.
“I have no doubt that he wanted to re-establish his authority as the drug dealer on the estate, and being around four years older than the two of you, he felt he could reclaim the estate. You were keen not to give up the lucrative trade you had established in his absence.
“I reject your evidence that you were doing your best to trade off the estate and avoid Zaman, on the contrary, you continued to trade where you knew he traded. A physical conflict was inevitable and you knew that.”
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He continued: “He received injuries all over his body and to his head from the knife, and I am in no doubt the wrench made contact with Zaman’s body and head, whether or not it left a wound.
“No one who has seen the video evidence can be left in any doubt over the ferocity and determination of your attack. Even when Zaman is on the ground you continue to attack him, even when he went down for a second time, you continued to attack him.”
Islam was sentenced to 22 years in prison, while Rahman was handed a 24 year sentence. Due to the number of months they have already spent in custody, they must serve 19 years and 21 years respectively, before being considered eligible for parole.
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