A thug who stabbed and killed a man with a large knife in Thornton Heath has been caught after forensic analysis of his discarded cigarettes at the crime scene.
Zak Baako was found guilty of the murder of 27-year-old Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto at the Old Bailey on Friday (December 20).
The 29-year-old, who has no fixed address, was also found guilty of stealing the car his victim had arrived in shortly before the murder.
Police were called to Mayfield Crescent in Thornton Heath on the evening of December 19 last year to reports that a man had been seriously assaulted.
Michael was found on the floor with multiple stab wounds, and died at the scene shortly afterwards.
Officers were able to establish that a group of men had arrived in the road in a white BMW around half an hour before the attack.
Michael and a friend then arrived in a Vauxhall Grandland. When the 27-year-old got out of the car, he was confronted by a man holding a large knife.
He was then stabbed multiple times, including once in the chest as he attempted to get back into the car.
The suspects then threatened his friend with a knife and forced her out of the car before stealing it. Police later found the Vauxhall abandoned close to the crime scene.
Searches of Mayfield Crescent revealed cigarette butts on the floor, near to where the BMW was parked.
These were later matched to Baako and two other accomplices – John Budal, 20, of Ena Road in Thornton Heath, and Omari Peat, 23, of Southampton Gardens in Mitcham.
After a four week trial, Budal was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter and robbery.
Omari Peat was found not guilty of murder or manslaughter, but guilty of robbery.
Both will appear alongside Baako at the Old Bailey on January 13 for sentencing.
From left to right: Zak Baako, Omari Peat and John Budal. All three will be sentenced in January. (Image: Metropolitan Police)
Following their convictions, Met Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe said: “Zak Baako arrived that day, armed with a knife and was prepared to use it against Michael Afonso Peixoto.
“It’s been just over a year since Michael was killed, leaving his family including his young son devastated.
“Whilst this Christmas will be no easier than the last for his family, I hope that this result allows them to start moving forward.”