LONDON, ENGLAND – A man and a teenage boy have been handed life sentences for the brutal stabbing of Farhad Khalili. Sean Deery and Sebastian Niven were convicted at the Old Bailey in December for the murder that took place on December 15, 2021.
The court heard that Farhad Khalili was ambushed and attacked at around 7pm as he walked along Surbiton Crescent in Kingston. CCTV footage showed the victim being attacked by Deery and Niven, who stabbed him multiple times before fleeing the scene. Despite managing to stagger to Surbiton Road, Khalili tragically passed away at the scene.
Following a review of local CCTV, both Deery, 28, and Niven, 18, were identified as the attackers. Deery had been mistakenly detained for a separate robbery before the fatal attack, while Niven was arrested at his home where blood-stained clothing linking him to the assault was found.
Both defendants refused to answer questions during their custody, but there was sufficient evidence to charge them with murder. Detective Inspector Jim Barry commended the officers and local community for their support in quickly identifying and detaining the suspects.
Barry further stated, “While Farhad and his assailants were known to each other, it has never been established why they attacked him in such a violent manner. What is clear is that when Deery and Niven launched their attack, they did so with a ferocity and intent to cause Farhad significant harm.”
Deery was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years imprisonment, while Niven received a life sentence with a minimum of 14 years imprisonment. The detective expressed hope that the sentences bring some comfort to Khalili’s family and friends, who have been left to deal with the tragic outcome.
The incident highlights the importance of community support in aiding law enforcement in swiftly bringing those responsible for the murder to justice. The sentencing serves as a somber reminder of the devastating impact of senseless violence on the lives of victims and their loved ones.