Two men have been found guilty of murdering a young law student who they mistook for a rival gang member and brutally attacked.
Sven Badzak, 22, was stabbed to death in Kilburn High Road as he walked home from a shop with a friend on February 6, 2021.
Rashid Gedel, of Fenman Gardens in Ilford and Shiroh Ambersley of Matthew Close in Wembley, were today (July 7) convicted of the murder of Sven and grievous bodily harm against Sven’s friend, then aged 16.
The two men, 22 and 23 respectively, walked into a bakery in Kilburn and stared at two females at the counter, before leaving without buying anything.
Detectives believe they were actively looking for someone to attack.
Sven and his friend were walking along the same road at the time and Gedel approached them from behind and was joined by Ambersley.
Another man, Harvey Canavan, of Walterton Road in Maida Hill, also joined the two after walking on other side of the road.
When they reached the victims, they were heard asking “what are you on?" before stabbing Sven in the chest and the second victim in his back.
Sven fled a short distance before collapsing in the street, where he was then reportedly punched and kicked by the defendants.
The friend managed to escape and asked people at a supermarket for help.
Sven was treated by paramedics, but died at the scene.
Canavan, 19, pleaded guilty to Sven’s manslaughter on the first day of trial.
All three will be sentenced on August 3 at the Old Bailey.
Detective Inspector John Marriott, specialist crime north, said: “My thoughts today are with the family of friends of Sven, who lost his life needlessly at the hands of these men. I would also like to praise the bravery of the second victim attacked that night.
“The courage he has shown in facing his attackers has enabled us to bring this prosecution and secure justice.
“None of the defendants have shown any remorse for their actions, with Rashid Gedel even boasting about the incident on his social media accounts in the days that followed the murder.
“It’s clear the group went out that evening intent on carrying out serious violence. Armed with knives, they roamed the streets seemingly looking for victims.
“Devastatingly, Sven and his friend became their targets in what we believe was a case of mistaken identity, as they suspected them to be members of a rival gang. They were not. They were simply two friends who were walking home after a trip to the shop.”
Police are still searching for two males who they want to speak to in connection with the murder, following a CCTV appeal in February 2022.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 5580/06FEB21.
Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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