Three men have been handed life sentences for their involvement in the murder of a 25-year-old man in Wembley. Ali Al-Amiri, 21, of Wyld Way, Brent, Joshua Oladele, 20, also of Wyld Way, Brent, and Micah Hines, 21, of Victoria Avenue, Brent, were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on August 28. Their sentences include:
- Oladele: Life imprisonment with a minimum of 28 years
- Hines: Life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years
- Al-Amiri: Life imprisonment with a minimum of 24 years
The men were convicted of the murder of Hamzah Iqbal, who was attacked on the evening of September 24, 2023, while out with friends in Olympic Way. Armed with knives and machetes, and wearing masks, the defendants launched a brutal and unprovoked assault on Iqbal, inflicting 23 knife wounds. Despite swift intervention from emergency services, Iqbal could not be saved.
Detectives painstakingly sifted through CCTV footage, which led to the identification and arrest of the perpetrators. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers praised the investigation team’s diligence and expressed hope that the convictions bring some solace to Iqbal’s grieving family. The Judge’s Commendation was awarded to officers for their meticulous work on the case.
Rogers commented, “This was a ferocious sustained attack by three men that left Hamzah with no opportunity to defend himself. The only conclusion is that they set out that evening intent on violence. Although nothing can bring Hamzah back, I hope his family finds some measure of solace in knowing that those responsible will spend many years behind bars.”