A man has been jailed for life for murdering another man in Vauxhall, south London, the United Kingdom, after a dispute over money, with jurors rejecting his claim that he acted in self-defence.
Fawaz Abdulkareem, 36, was found guilty of fatally stabbing Daniel Manuel, 32, at a flat on Bondway in Vauxhall following what prosecutors said began as an argument over a debt he was owed.
A statement released on Saturday by the Metropolitan Police UK confirmed the conviction.
Abdulkareem was unanimously convicted at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday, 21 May, of murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
He was later sentenced on Friday, June 5, 2026, to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years.
Detectives said they were able to quickly identify Abdulkareem as the attacker and arrested him at the scene, before charging him the following day.
Investigators also alleged he tried to mislead police and dispose of the weapon by throwing it from a 14th-floor window.
Detective Inspector Luke Hampton, who led the investigation, said: “Daniel was murdered in a moment of extreme violence by a man he thought was his friend.”
He added: “Abdulkareem tried to deceive police, recklessly throwing the murder weapon from the window of the 14th floor of a tower block and cruelly claiming it was Daniel who had attacked him.”
Daniel’s wife, Zulal, gave emotional testimony in court describing the impact of her husband’s death, saying: “Daniel was not just my husband, he was my partner, my home, my emotional safety and the person I built my entire life around.”
She said: “Losing him in such a violent and sudden way has completely shattered my world.”
She added: “This loss has affected every part of my life, emotionally, physically, financially and I am still trying to survive the aftermath of it.”
Police said Daniel was discovered with three stab wounds in the lobby of the building after officers were called at 05:38hrs and arrived within minutes, but he was pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency efforts by paramedics.
Investigators added that the attack followed a night out at a nightclub, after which both men returned to the flat where the dispute escalated, ultimately leading to the fatal stabbing.
Abdulkareem was ultimately convicted of murder and possession of a bladed article, with prosecutors saying evidence showed the victim was stabbed while his back was turned, contradicting the defendant’s claim of self-defence.
