The man accused of murdering a promising Ghanaian boxer and father-to-be in front of his three-year-old daughter has been found guilty at the Old Bailey today.

Charles Acquaah, 22, a former friend of John ‘King’ Abbey stabbed him in the chest in London Road just moments before he was due to board a bus and visit his new born son.

Mr Abbey, 26, later died at the Mayday hospital, where his son had been born earlier that day.

Acquaah, 22 of Greenside Road, Croydon, had denied murder but was found guilty today at the Old Bailey.

He will be sentenced on October 2.

Mr Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, had told the court how an argument developed between the two men when Acquaah chanced upon Mr King at the bus stop in London Road, Croydon, in the early evening of Thursday January 29.

While King was trying to fend off Acquaah, the defendant became increasingly aggressive and fatally stabbed Mr Abbey in the heart.

Acquaah claimed he acted in self defence, but Mr Altman QC said Mr Abbey had struck no blows and there was no evidence from any of the independent witnesses that King had "gone" for Acquaah, as the defendant later claimed to police.

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons who led the murder investigation said: "This is a sad and shocking case that saw John Abbey known as King, a young boxing champion, murdered as a result of a single stab wound to the heart at a bus stop in Croydon by a heartless and spiteful former associate.

"Even more tragic is that King was with his daughter, visiting his son, who was born on the very day his father was murdered.

"If matters could get any worse, King also leaves behind three other children under the age of six and in a further twist of fate, his partner Emma is carrying his unborn son whose birth is imminent."

Emma Abbott, Mr Abbey’s fiance, said: “I am pleased that justice has been done and Charles William Acquaah has been found guilty of the murder of my fiance and father of our two children and our baby that is due any day.

“As I am heavily pregnant and have not been able to go to court, I am pleased that my parents have been able to listen to the evidence and see justice done.

“The impact of what has gone on since since January 29 has really destroyed all of our lives including my mum and dad.

“I can't even begin to say how this has made me feel in my heart.

"My heart is absolutely broken especially when I look at my children growing and developing each day and how King would have been such a good husband and father.

“This should be a lesson to everybody not to carry guns and knifes, as it is the families that are left behind that are most affected for the rest of our lives."

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