A man who admitted that he was a career criminal has been found guilty of killing a young father while stealing his new e-bike in south London.
Yusuf Kallon, 19, had denied murdering Rohan Trotman, 26, but in evidence had admitted in court that he had led a life of crime.
A jury heard at the Old Bailey how detectives proved Kallon had dumped his phone shortly after the killing and spent hundreds of hours trawling CCTV footage to identify him as a suspect.
Kallon was trying to flee Britain after the murder, the court was told.
He had made credit card payments to a holiday company in Spain, booking a flight to Sierra Leone and paying for a new fast-tracked passport.
A jury convicted Kallon of murder and two counts of robbery on Monday.
Detective Chief Inspector Laurence Smith, who led the investigation, said: “Rohan was a much loved son, partner, and brother. Put simply, he was killed by Kallon for his new electric bike in a senseless attack that has devastated a family.
“I am glad that the jury saw through Kallon’s lies, and I would like to thank my team for their diligent work which allowed clear and incontrovertible evidence to be shown in court.
“My thoughts and condolences remain with Rohan’s family, and I hope they can find some small measure of comfort in Kallon’s conviction.”
Rohan’s mother, Debra, said: “I would like to thank the exemplary efforts of the police in bringing Kallon to justice.”
He was stabbed in Gordon Road near to the junction with Nunhead Green, on June 25 2023.
The court heard that he had been cycling home from Croydon on his new electric bike, when he was attacked by Kallon and another man, who fled the country shortly afterwards.
The pair left Rohan bleeding in the street with multiple stab wounds. He was taken to hospital where he died the next day.
Kallon was also found guilty of two charges of robbery. The court was told that Kallon’s accomplice fled the UK before police could link him to the murder.
Both had committed another robbery shortly before the murder, stealing a motorbike from the Waterloo area, the court heard
Kallon was found not guilty of possession of an offensive weapon.He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 28 June.
