Teenager killed 16-year-old boy with 'ninja-style' sword in brutal park as victim screamed 'save me'

A youth has been found guilty of murdering a 16-year-old boy with a red “ninja-style” sword bought online. The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stabbed Rahaan Ahmed Amin in the chest on July 9 in retaliation for an earlier stabbing, jurors were told.

The defendant was found guilty of murder and possession of a blade following a trial at the Old Bailey on Friday. Prosecutor Kate Lumsdon KC had told jurors how the defendant cycled through West Ham Park in Newham, east London, with his face covered.

He took out a long red knife and attacked Rahaan before fleeing. Rahaan and his attacker were said to have stood “toe to toe” before the knife was used, while another witness said he saw a boy approach him with his hands on his chest, shouting “save me, please save me.”

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Paramedics were called to the scene and Rahaan was taken to hospital where he died the next day. Police recovered the murder weapon bearing the accused's fingerprints and the victim's blood on the blade hanging from a tree in the park.

They also discovered a Snapchat photo of nine knives lined up on the defendant's bed, one of which resembled the red sword used in the murder. An identical knife had been ordered online via an online store in the weeks before the murder on June 12.

Three orders were placed using a passport belonging to the father of one of the defendant's friends who told police he had no knowledge of the purchase, the court heard.

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The last order was placed with the defendant's home as the delivery address. Jurors were told the murder occurred amid tensions between the defendant's and victim's friend groups.

When one of the accused's friends was stabbed, Rahaan was arrested on suspicion of involvement. The Snapchat messages suggested the accused and his friends wanted to harm Rahaan in retaliation, the court was told.

During his trial, the accused claimed to have used the knife in self-defense. Sentencing was adjourned until September 6 for the preparation of reports.

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