Omar Wilson, 31, was found responsible for killing Mussie Imnetu after police used footage alongside DNA from a pair of sunglasses.
Wilson, of Napier Road in Leytonstone, was sentenced on Friday (February 28) to 18 years after being found guilty of murder at an earlier hearing at the Old Bailey on Thursday, February 20.
Mussie, who was 41 and visiting the UK from Dubai where he lived and worked, was found unconscious with a head injury in Queensway, W2 at 11.22pm on Monday, August 26, 2024.
Officers were on the scene in seconds and provided emergency first aid until paramedics arrived.
Mussie was taken to hospital where, despite the best efforts of medical staff, he died on August 30, 2024.
Wilson claimed that he attacked Mussie in self-defence, however he was found guilty of murder by a jury majority.
After the attack Wilson quickly left the area, avoiding police officers as he did so.
He then travelled across London to attend a nightclub on Gaunt Street.
This was an hour and a half after his attack on Mussie.
Although Wilson fled the scene, he dropped his sunglasses and house and car keys.
Officers were able to recover his DNA from the sunglasses, and the keys were a perfect fit for his house and car.
Officers analysed his phone usage and placed Wilson in Queensway at the time of the murder.
Police pieced CCTV together which showed the attack and Wilson’s journey to the nightclub on Gaunt Street.
The jury were also shown messages sent by Wilson to friends in in the aftermath of the attack.
In one of them he said: “There’s a monster in me … and it’s just like sometimes it comes out.
“And I think I’ve messed up now … and everything’s finished” and “I’ve f***** up … I crossed the line and went overboard. I don’t think I can come back from this mistake … I’m going jail in the morning”.
In another he said that “I did the hands ting…finished one guy man” and was told by a friend to “get a solicitor and use your ADHD”.
Wilson was arrested on Wednesday, August 28 2024 and charged the following day.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts very much remain with Mussie’s family and friends in Dubai, Sweden and London.
“Mussie was a loving husband, father, son and a respected chef.
“He was in London for a few days to help train his colleagues and went out that evening to enjoy the post Notting Hill Carnival atmosphere, where tragically he was violently assaulted.”
