- Man Jailed for Fatal Stabbing of Friend in London Debt Dispute
- Jury Rejects Self-Defence Plea,
- Says Killer Must Serve Minimum of 17 Years
A UK court has sentenced a 36-year-old man, Fawaz Abdulkareem, to life imprisonment for the murder of his friend, Daniel Manuel, following a dispute over money in south London, Eko Hot Blog reports.
According to a statement issued by the Metropolitan Police, Abdulkareem was convicted of murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place after a jury unanimously rejected his claim that he acted in self-defence.
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The conviction was secured at Croydon Crown Court on May 21, 2026, while sentencing took place on June 5, with the court ordering him to serve a minimum of 17 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Prosecutors told the court that the fatal attack occurred at a flat in Vauxhall after an argument linked to money allegedly owed by the defendant to the victim.
Police said officers responded to an emergency call at about 5:38 a.m. and found Manuel suffering from multiple stab wounds in the building’s lobby. Despite efforts by emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators quickly identified Abdulkareem as the suspect and arrested him at the location. Detectives later discovered that he had attempted to mislead investigators and dispose of the weapon by throwing it from a 14th-floor window.
Lead investigator, Detective Inspector Luke Hampton, said the victim was killed by someone he considered a friend.
“Daniel was murdered in a moment of extreme violence by a man he thought was his friend,” Hampton said, adding that the defendant’s version of events was disproved during the investigation.
According to detectives, forensic and witness evidence suggested that Manuel was likely attacked while his back was turned, contradicting Abdulkareem’s claim that he acted in self-defence.
In a victim impact statement presented to the court, Daniel’s wife, Zulal Manuel, described the devastating impact of the loss on her life and family.
She said her husband had been her partner, source of emotional support and the foundation of their shared future, adding that his violent death had left lasting emotional, physical and financial consequences.
Police said the incident followed a night out at a nightclub before both men returned to the flat where the dispute escalated into violence.
