Four face jail over manager's stabbing during Matalan raid

Four members of a ruthless robbery gang were facing jail today after being convicted of killing a shop manager in a botched cash raid.

Jamie Simpson, 33, was stabbed in the neck with a 10-inch kitchen knife by teenager Kobina Essel - known as "Aggro" - after cashing up at a Matalan store in Hackney in March 2008.

Essel, 19, of east London, faces a life sentence after he was convicted of murdering Mr Simpson by an Old Bailey jury.

Anthony Maina, 20, of Canning Town, Simeon Jumah, 25, of Manor Park, and a 17-year-old youth were found guilty of manslaughter.

Jurors were unable to agree on a charge of murder against Maina, Jumah, and the youth, and were discharged from returning verdicts on that allegation.

The court heard that the gang had planned to steal between £20,000 and £30,000 from the east London Matalan store but in the end they fled empty-handed.