Noel Thompson, Freelance WriterLONDON:
A JAMAICAN man who along with his crony attempted to murder an English drug abuser was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a London court earlier this week.
Omar Murray, 22, of Canning Town, and his friend Ryan Russell, 20, of Filey Avenue in Hackney, East London, were arrested on charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent, which occurred at a reputed drug den at Downs Estate in Hackney.
The victim, Claymont Merriman, had gone to the flat to purchase and smoke crack-cocaine on January 22, a day preceding the stabbing incident.
The Old Bailey (one of London's Crown Courts) was told on Tuesday that on January 23 this year, Merriman, alias 'Clem', also of a London address, was stabbed and left to die from a punctured lung during a drug brawl.
After purchasing his cocaine, he spent the night at the Downs Estate where he performed security duties, when £5 disappeared.
The men accused him of being a thief. He was angrily set upon and Murray punched him in the face. He tried to escape by barging into an adjacent room and blocked the door with furniture, but his assailants forced their way in.
Russell flung a chair at him and Murray stabbed him several times, puncturing his lung. Paramedics were quick on the scene and rushed the injured man to hospital.
Murray denied he was at the flat or had participated in the attack. He said he had spent the day shopping for a birthday present for his father and had watched video at home with his girlfriend.
Russell also denied taking part in the attack. The charge of attempted murder was dropped, but he was convicted of the lesser charge of wounding with intent. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment.
