DNA found on asthma inhaler and cigarette helps convict teenager in man’s death
A man who fled to Pakistan has been found guilty of murdering his 27-year-old father, using DNA from a cigarette butt police found at the scene. Ali Abdul Kolay, 19, was found guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday for his role in the murder of Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto. The Metropolitan Police tracked Simple for two years after the attack.
Mr Peixoto was fatally attacked in Mayfield Crescent, Thornton Heath, south London, on December 19, 2023. When Mr Peixoto arrived at the Vauxhall Grandland with a friend on the night of the murder, a group of men in a white BMW were observed waiting in the road, the Met Police said on Saturday.
When Mr. Peixoto got out of the car, he was stabbed multiple times, once in the chest, as he tried to get back into the vehicle.
The victim’s friend was threatened with a knife and forced out of the car before it was stolen and later found abandoned nearby.
Police said DNA found on cigarette butts found at the scene matched that of three men who were later convicted for their roles in the December 2024 incident.
Police said Simple, of Leicester Avenue in Mitcham, south London, fled to Pakistan after being spotted at the scene of the robbery before Mr Peixoto’s murder.
Police compiled evidence, including mobile phone data, linking Simple to three prisoners and he was arrested after returning to the UK in May last year.
The DNA of the asthma medication found during the police search at Basın’s home matched the DNA found on the cigarette butt at the scene.
Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe, who is leading the investigation, said: “Basit returned to the UK following the conviction of three other men in connection with Michael’s death, possibly under the false pretense that he had gotten away with his actions.
“What Basit did not know was that our officers had compiled a wealth of evidence, including phone data, linking him to three other prisoners at the time of the attack.
“After his arrest, our officers were able to retrieve his DNA from an inhaler at his home, which matched DNA found on a cigarette butt at the scene.”
Zak Baako, 30, of no fixed address, was found guilty of Mr Peixoto’s murder on 20 December 2024 and was later sentenced to at least 28 years in prison.
John Budal, 20, of Ena Road, Thornton Heath, was found guilty of manslaughter and robbery, and Omari Peat, 23, of Southampton Gardens in Mitcham, south London, was found guilty of robbery.
He was found guilty of simple manslaughter and robbery and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on May 22.
