London knife crime: First picture of thug who stabbed his Croydon cousin to death in Battersea

A thug has been found guilty of murdering his second cousin in Battersea.

Jerome Bailey brutally murdered Tesfa Campbell in Latchmere Road, Battersea on July 3, 2019 following an argument in the street.

Bailey, 38, fatally stabbed Mr Campbell, from Croydon, in the abdomen before walking off with a JD Sports carrier bag, which the stab victim had been carrying.

Bailey, of of Victor Road, Teddington was found guilty of murder at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday (January 21). He will be sentenced at the same court at a later date.

The court previously heard that Mr Campbell, 40, and Bailey, who were described as being “close”, were walking in Latchmere Road at around 2.45pm when a disagreement took place.

Mr Campbell had been on his way either to or from the gym as he did most days. On that day, Bailey travelled all the way from Tedddington to Battersea having arranged to meet the victim. The reason for the meeting is unclear.

A witness, who gave evidence from behind a screen, was working in Latchmere Road when he said he saw “punches being thrown” between Bailey and his second cousin.

The jury of eight men and four women were told Bailey shouted to Mr Campbell, “I’m going to knife you.”

Moments later, according to the witness, Mr Campbell started to “stagger” up Latchmere Road before collapsing near a lamppost.

“He then got back up before falling again near to some railings,” said the witness.

The witness said Mr Campbell was “sucking in air”, while there was a “few specks of blood” near to where the victim was laying.

This caused the witness to lift up Mr Campbell’s top, where a “wound” was visible on his stomach.

Another witness, a postwoman who had been working in Latchmere Road at the time of the stabbing, estimated the wound to be eight inches long.

“He [Mr Campbell] was holding onto the railings near the pub [The Latchmere] with his right hand,” the Royal Mail worker said.

“As I watched him he fell down.”

She added: “I ran straight over. I initially thought it may have been due to the heat that day.

“I asked the man if he was alright and replied, ‘I can’t breathe.'”

The postwoman dialled 999 and witnessed two other members of the public starting chest compressions and basic first aid.

A number of ambulance and police vehicles then arrived, with Mr Campbell taken to hospital.

He died in hospital at 7.40pm that night.

Police launched a murder investigation and on July 8 detectives charged Bailey with Mr Campbell’s murder.

Days after Mr Campbell died, a vigil was held in his memory at the scene of where he was stabbed and was attended by friends and members of his family.

‘The nature of this incident is deeply shocking’

Dozens laid flowers, lit candles and paid their respects as they mourned the loss of Mr Campbell.

DCI Simon Harding who led the investigation, said after the verdict was returned: “I am pleased with the unanimous guilty verdict reached in this case. Unfortunately, we are still no clearer to knowing why a meeting between the two cousins has ended with Tesfa losing his life at the hands of another family member.

“This is undoubtedly a tragic incident that will have a long-lasting impact on Tesfa’s family and friends. The nature of this incident is deeply shocking and I hope that this verdict goes some way to help them begin to a close this sad chapter.

“I also want to pay tribute to the members of the public who came forward to assist with the investigation and those who stopped to help after the attack.”

Bailey will be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court at a date yet to be confirmed.

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