Anselam Senaj, 26, was killed after being stabbed in the back of a car in East Ham at 10.10pm on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
He died at the scene.
During a 14-week trial, the court heard that a gang of men used a stolen vehicle to block the taxi Anselam was travelling in, before launching a brutal assault as he sat in the back seat at the junction of Victoria Avenue and Grangewood Street.
Anselam Senaj (Image: MPS)
Police arrested three of the suspects – Muhammad Samiyul Miah, Zain Ali, and Ibrahim Naim—during a series of warrants issued across London on November 22, 2023.
All three were charged with murder that night.
Forensic analysis of clothing, as well as downloads of phone conversations, revealed links to drug dealing and implicated all four men.
Detectives later identified Muhammad Saqib Khan, who had fled to Amsterdam, as a key suspect.
He was arrested on December 4, 2023, by Dutch authorities and extradited to the UK on January 12, 2024, where he was charged with murder and possession of a knife.
Khan and Miah were both convicted of murder and knife possession at the Old Bailey on Monday, January 23.
Naim and Ali were found guilty of manslaughter at the same trial.
At the Old Bailey on Friday, April 11, the four were sentenced as follows:
Muhammad Saqib Khan, 24, of Walton Road, Manor Park, was jailed for life, with minimum term of 26 years for murder.
Muhammad Samiyul Miah, 19, of Jack Cornwell Street, Manor Park, was jailed for life, to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison for murder.
Their sentences also included terms for possession of a knife.
Ibrahim Naim, 18, of Clacton Road, East Ham was sentenced to ten and a half years for manslaughter.
Zain Ali, 22, of Poulett Road, East Ham, was sentenced to 14 years for manslaughter.
Detective Sergeant Brett Hagen, who led the Met’s investigation, said: “Anselam Senaj was killed in a brutal cold-blooded assault which lasted seconds, but was so severe he died at the scene.
“Our team conducted a thorough and detailed investigation which led to the arrest of three of the suspects within two weeks of the attack.
“We’d like to thank our partner agencies who helped us ensure the arrest of the final suspect, and bring the case to trial to secure justice for Anselam.
“Our thoughts remain as always with Anselam’s friends and family as they move forward with their life, safe in the knowledge his attackers are behind bars where they belong.”
