Kemuel Gambicky-Forbes was sentenced at the Old Bailey yesterday to 26 years in prison for the murder of Leon Anderson outside his home in Mitcham in April 2025.
Murderer: Kemuel Gambicky-Forbes
Gambicky-Forbes, 25, of Deer Park Gardens, was arrested the day after the murder, claiming he had acted in self-defence.
Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who led the investigation, said: “This was a devastating case, in which a man was murdered outside his own home in the presence of his family.
“Leon was a devoted father and a loving partner, and our thoughts remain with all those who were close to him.
“I would particularly like to acknowledge the courage of the local community. A number of neighbours came forward immediately to assist officers, providing clear accounts of what they had witnessed.
“Leon’s devasted wife Natasha also gave compelling evidence about what had happened. She had bravely attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation before the fatal stabbing.
“Gambicky-Forbes sought to portray himself as having acted in self-defence, claiming that Leon was the aggressor and that all of the witnesses were either mistaken or dishonest. The jury rejected this account.”
It was around 7.15pm on the night of the attack that Anderson called 999 to report that a man known to him from the local area had threatened him with a knife outside his home.
‘Loved beyond words’: Leon Anderson
According to the Met, “Officers arrived at the scene within minutes to find Leon critically injured inside his house. Despite the efforts of officers and paramedics, he died at the scene.”
Gambicky-Forbes was seen by multiple witnesses to flee the scene through some woods.
Officers recovered a phone belonging to Gambicky-Forbes. A police dog was deployed, and a rucksack, jeans and hoodie were found discarded nearby.
Gambicky-Forbes presented at a police station the following day. He mostly refused to comment at interview, maintaining that Anderson had tried to run him over prior to the stabbing.
In a statement, Anderson’s wife said: “This was a completely unnecessary killing. It was cruel, devastating, and has left permanent damage to a family who loved Leon beyond words.
“No sentence will ever bring my husband back. We will spend the rest of our lives grieving the man we loved, the husband I should have grown old with, and the father our children should have had for many more years.
“Leon was loved and will be missed every single second of every single day.”
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