Sahil Roy murder: Thug jailed for life after stabbing young man to death in 'trivial' row over cannabis

Stabbed to death: Sahil Roy
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A self-styled gangster who flew into a rage and stabbed his friend to death in a “trivial” row over not allowing him to roll a cannabis joint has been jailed for life.

Azeem Issa, 22, pulled out the blade he regularly carried in the waistband of his trousers and plunged it into Sahil Roy’s shoulder and neck during the unprovoked attack on April 10 this year.

The 28-year-old victim collapsed yards from his own home, and bled to death while cradled by his devastated mother.

Today at the Old Bailey, Judge Johannah Cutts QC jailed Issa for life with a minimum term of 20 years, and issued a warning to others who habitually carry knives.

“This is a clear example of why the law takes such a serious view of carrying a knife in a public place”, she said.

“If you carry a knife and lose your temper, it’s a small step to using it with devastating results.”

A forensic officer at the scene of the stabbing in Isleworth
Nigel Howard

Issa has previous convictions dating back to when he was 15-years-old, holding a woman prisoner and threatening her with a kitchen knife.

The following year, in 2010, he was caught with a knife in Kingston and told police he needed it for “courage” as that was “not his area”.

Mr Roy and his friends had seen Issa with the lock knife tucked into his trousers on the estate where they lived in Isleworth, where he liked to portray himself as a “gangster”, the court heard.

“It was the combination of your readiness to carry a knife together with being quick to temper that led to the tragic death of Sahil Roy”, said the judge.

“It’s a combination that marks you out as a dangerous man.”

The court heard Issa had first fallen out with Mr Roy two days before the murder, when he was teased for losing at a game of Fifa on the Playstation.

In the following days, Issa – known as Ricardo – grew increasingly agitated with his friend who was dodging his calls and refusing to answer the front door.

Calls records show in the hours before the stabbing, Issa phoned Mr Roy 21 times, pleading with him to meet up and smoke cannabis.

When they finally met up, to smoke drugs behind the bins on the Ivybridge Estate in Isleworth where they lived, Issa insisted on using a cannabis grinder and rolling the joint but his friend said no.

Issa flew into a rage, pulled out his knife and stabbed Mr Roy twice.

“You seemed to have an obsession with wanting to be the one to roll the cannabis cigarette, and on every occasion save the last one he let you”, said the judge.

Investigators at the scene of the stabbing in Isleworth
Nigel Howard

“It was something as trivial and senseless as this that caused you to lose your temper, take the knife from your belt, flick it open and attack Mr Roy with it.”

Issa fled the scene, hid the knife and changed his clothes, but was quickly arrested by police.

Mr Roy staggered out from behind the bins and collapsed on the ground, dying a short while later at the scene.

His mother, Nasira Manandhar, who cradled her Manchester United-loving son as he died, said the murder has devastated her family.

“The life of Sahil was taken by a violent individual – no family deserves to go through this”, she said.

“I believe the individual poses a risk to others and only wish Mr Issa, who has committed an unspeakable crime, is adequately punished.”

Mr Roy, an avid sports and computer games fan, was due to marry his fiancé next year and had planned to go travelling with her after the wedding.

Issa, of Haweswater House, Isleworth, displayed no emotion as he was jailed for life. He died but was convicted by a jury of murder.

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