22/10/2008

Pair Guilty Of Bus Row Murder

Two teenagers who stabbed a man to death after an argument on a bus in Croydon have been found guilty of his murder.

Junior Lumbango, aged 18, of Croydon and Starfield Badza, aged 18 also of Croydon, were found guilty at the Old Bailey of the murder of Billy Ward, aged 21, in Gravel Hill, Croydon on 8 December 2007.

Billy Ward was returning home from a night out with friends in the early hours of Saturday 8 December 2007, when Lumbango and Badza stabbed him.

Mr Ward, a 21-year-old roofer, from New Addington, Croydon was knifed after a minor altercation on the N159 bus.

After the situation had calmed, a witness on the bus heard Badza say he was going to stab Billy and asked his friend for a knife.

The journey continued with Badza and Lumbango continuing to aggravate fellow passengers, including Billy.

When the bus reached the Gravel Hill stop Lumbango and Badza went to walk down the stairs. As Badza walked past Mr Ward, he made his hand into the shape of a gun and pushed it into Billy's head and also tried to slap him.

Lumbango and Badza were bundled down the stairs by other passengers and so got off the bus. Billy followed them and out onto the pavement and a fight started.

During the course of the fight Badza put Billy in a headlock and Lumbango removed the knife from the pocket and stabbed him at least nine times. Both men ran off chased by passengers, but were able to escape.

Badza and Lumbango were found guilty despite blaming each other for Mr Ward's death.

They will be sentenced on 18 November 2008.

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