Murderer: Simon Ghebremedhin
Simon Ghebremedhin has been sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 19 years, for the murder of 26-year-old Marjama Osman in her own home on Frith Street, just off Surrey Street Market, in May last year.
Ghebremedhin, 34, of Streatham High Road, was found guilty by a unanimous jury decision at the Inner London Crown Court earlier this month.
The police described Ghebremedhin as “a devious killer”, after CCTV showed that after stabbing Osman, he had returned inside her house where he wounded himself, in order to claim self-defence.
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 was declared dead at the scene from a single stab wound.
Following yesterday’s sentencing, Detective Inspector Aytac Necati, who led the Met’s investigation, said: Our thoughts today are with Marjama’s family and friends. 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.
“The Met is committed to protecting the public from harm – with violence against women and girls a particular focus of our New Met for London strategy. The successful prosecution in this case illustrates this commitment.
Murder victim: Marjama Osman
“We’ll continue to do everything in our power to take the most dangerous and prolific perpetrators off our streets.”
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.
Read more: Shock and inaction is numbing communities to these killings
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