Key Points
- Trevelle Rowland, 34, of Cornelia Street, Islington, convicted of murder, dangerous driving, and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm at Inner London Crown Court on January 12, 2026.
- Incident occurred on Barking Road, East Ham, at 5.20am on March 24, 2025, where Rowland used his VW Tiguan as a weapon against Fergany Mvuezolo, a 35-year-old security guard, following an argument outside a restaurant.
- Fergany Mvuezolo found severely injured at the scene; pronounced dead shortly after; Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service attended.
- CCTV evidence, witness testimony, and mobile phone footage identified Rowland as the driver; he was known to the victim and part of a group arguing with security.
- Rowland left the scene in his VW Tiguan, returned shortly after, and deliberately drove into Mvuezolo.
- Rowland arrested at Heathrow Airport later on March 24, 2025, while attempting to flee the country; a receipt from the Barking Road restaurant found on him.
- Investigation linked the crash to a prior similar incident on May 29, 2024, on Ripple Road, Barking, where Rowland drove the same VW Tiguan into two security guards after an argument over removing a baseball cap.
- In the May 2024 incident, one guard thrown onto the car’s bonnet, sustaining right knee and ankle injuries; the second suffered a minor hand injury; vehicle impounded in Dartford.
- Rowland visited Dagenham police station on May 30, 2024, to enquire about the car, lied claiming no knowledge and that he had rented it to an associate; later identified by victims.
- Rowland charged with murder and two counts of attempted Section 18 grievous bodily harm; sentencing scheduled for January 15, 2026.
- Detective Inspector Aytac Necati described Rowland as an “extremely dangerous man” and “devious liar” who used his car as a weapon twice, captured on CCTV both times.
East Ham (East London Times) January 13, 2026 – Trevelle Rowland, 34, of Cornelia Street, Islington, stands convicted of murdering Fergany Mvuezolo by using his Volkswagen Tiguan as a weapon following a heated argument outside a restaurant on Barking Road. The guilty verdict for murder, dangerous driving, and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm came at Inner London Crown Court yesterday, January 12. Sentencing is set for January 15.
- Key Points
- Who is Trevelle Rowland and What Led to His Conviction?
- What Happened in the Fatal Crash on Barking Road?
- How Was Rowland Arrested and What Evidence Linked Him?
- What Prior Incident Connected to the Murder Charge?
- When and Where Did the Earlier Attack Occur?
- How Did Rowland Respond to Police in the Prior Case?
- What Do Police Say About Rowland’s Danger?
- When and Where Will Sentencing Take Place?
- Who Were the Victims and What Impact Did the Attacks Have?
- Why Did the Arguments Escalate to Violence?
This tragic incident unfolded at 5.20am on March 24, 2025, on the busy Barking Road in East Ham, drawing immediate response from the Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service. Fergany Mvuezolo, a 35-year-old security guard, was found severely injured at the scene and pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Court proceedings revealed a pattern of violence by Rowland, who was known to the victim.
Who is Trevelle Rowland and What Led to His Conviction?
Trevelle Rowland, aged 34 and residing on Cornelia Street in Islington, drove his VW Tiguan into Fergany Mvuezolo after an altercation outside a restaurant on Barking Road. As detailed in court, Rowland was part of a group of men who argued with the security guard that evening. He departed the scene in his vehicle, only to return moments later and deliberately ram into Mvuezolo, as confirmed by CCTV evidence, witness testimony, and mobile phone footage.
Eyewitnesses positively identified Rowland as the driver of the black VW Tiguan involved in the fatal crash. The prosecution presented compelling evidence showing Rowland’s intent, with the court finding him guilty on all counts: murder, dangerous driving, and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm. Rowland faces sentencing on January 15, 2026, at Inner London Crown Court.
What Happened in the Fatal Crash on Barking Road?
The Metropolitan Police received alerts at 5.20am on March 24, 2025, regarding a crash on Barking Road, East Ham. Officers arrived alongside the London Ambulance Service to find Fergany Mvuezolo, 35, severely injured. He was pronounced dead a short time later at the scene.
According to court testimony, the incident stemmed from an argument outside a restaurant where Mvuezolo worked as a security guard. Rowland, known to Mvuezolo, was among the group involved in the dispute. After leaving in his VW Tiguan, Rowland returned and used the car to strike the victim fatally. A receipt from the very restaurant was discovered on Rowland during his arrest, linking him directly to the location.
How Was Rowland Arrested and What Evidence Linked Him?
Rowland attempted to flee the country and was arrested later that same day, March 24, 2025, at Heathrow Airport. The receipt from the Barking Road restaurant found in his possession served as immediate physical evidence tying him to the scene.
CCTV footage captured the entire sequence: the argument, Rowland’s departure and return, and the deliberate act of driving into Mvuezolo. Witness statements and mobile phone videos further corroborated the events, with eyewitnesses identifying Rowland as the driver. The VW Tiguan was impounded as key forensic evidence.
What Prior Incident Connected to the Murder Charge?
When and Where Did the Earlier Attack Occur?
Investigators uncovered a strikingly similar incident ten months earlier, on May 29, 2024, on Ripple Road in Barking, elsewhere in East Ham. Following an argument where Rowland was asked to remove a baseball cap, he drove his same VW Tiguan into a pair of security guards.
One guard was thrown onto the bonnet of the car, suffering injuries to his right knee and ankle. The second guard sustained a minor hand injury. The vehicle was later found parked in Dartford and impounded.
How Did Rowland Respond to Police in the Prior Case?
Rowland appeared at Dagenham police station the following day, May 30, 2024, to enquire about his impounded car. According to the Metropolitan Police account, he lied to officers, claiming no knowledge of the incident outside the pub and insisting he had rented the vehicle to an associate. Victims later identified him unequivocally as the driver who targeted them.
This pattern led to Rowland being charged not only with Mvuezolo’s murder but also two counts of attempted Section 18 grievous bodily harm related to the Ripple Road attack.
What Do Police Say About Rowland’s Danger?
Detective Inspector Aytac Necati of the Metropolitan Police issued a strong statement post-verdict:
“Rowland is an extremely dangerous man. He used his car as a weapon against three men – one of whom tragically lost his life. Rowland is also a devious liar. He misled police about the initial attack, in which he ran his car into a pair of security guards over a trivial dispute – only to go on to kill another man using the exact same method. Both of the incidents were captured on CCTV. We would like to express our sympathies to the family of Fergany Mvuezolo, and to Rowland’s two living victims. The defendant has left a trail of destruction in his wake.”
Necati’s remarks underscore the premeditated nature of both attacks, both fully documented on CCTV, highlighting Rowland’s repeated use of his vehicle as a lethal instrument.
When and Where Will Sentencing Take Place?
Rowland’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026, at Inner London Crown Court. The court will determine the precise term for his convictions on murder, dangerous driving, and the two attempted grievous bodily harm charges. No further details on potential sentence length have been released pending the hearing.
Who Were the Victims and What Impact Did the Attacks Have?
Fergany Mvuezolo, 35, lost his life on Barking Road on March 24, 2025, after Rowland targeted him with the VW Tiguan. In the earlier Ripple Road incident on May 29, 2024, two unnamed security guards were injured: one with knee and ankle damage from being thrown onto the bonnet, the other with a minor hand injury. Detective Inspector Aytac Necati extended sympathies to Mvuezolo’s family and the surviving victims, noting the devastation caused.
Why Did the Arguments Escalate to Violence?
The Barking Road argument involved Rowland’s group clashing with security guard Fergany Mvuezolo outside the restaurant, though specifics of the dispute remain undisclosed beyond the initial altercation. Similarly, the Ripple Road incident arose from Rowland being asked to remove a baseball cap, deemed a trivial matter by Detective Inspector Aytac Necati. Both escalated rapidly as Rowland chose to weaponise his vehicle upon returning.
