Two teens convicted over Tower Hamlets fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Abdul Jalloh

Key Points:

• Shamiah McKenzie, 18, convicted of murder of 23-year-old Abdul Jalloh.
• Codee Godfrey, 19, convicted of manslaughter in the same case.
• Attack took place on 5 August 2024 in New Union Close, Isle of Dogs, Tower Hamlets.
• Victim stabbed in the neck while sitting unarmed in his car.
• Convicted men cycled around the area for over an hour before attacking Jalloh.
• Knife, sheath, and bicycle dumped in Thames after the attack.
• Clothes, drugs, and phones hidden in bushes to avoid detection.
• £3,000 in cannabis, £2,000 cash, packaging machine and business cards found in discarded bag.
• Both men returned to the crime scene later, disguised in different clothes.
• Surrendered to police on 8 August 2024, charged the next day.
• Sentencing scheduled for 20 June 2025 at the Old Bailey.
• Detective praised officers and local community for helping convict the pair.

Two teenagers have been convicted for their roles in the fatal stabbing of Abdul Jalloh in Tower Hamlets, following a calculated attack linked to drug activity.

As reported by Joseph Reaidi of Romford Recorder, Shamiah McKenzie, 18, of Colvin Close, Lewisham, was found guilty of murder, while Codee Godfrey, 19, of Grosvenor Road, Tower Hamlets, was convicted of manslaughter. The verdict was reached on 12 June 2025 at the Old Bailey.

The killing took place on 5 August 2024 in New Union Close, Isle of Dogs. Police confirmed Abdul Jalloh, 23, was stabbed fatally in the neck while defenceless in the driver’s seat of his car.

What led to Abdul Jalloh’s murder?

According to Joseph Reaidi of Romford Recorder, the court heard how McKenzie and Godfrey spent over an hour cycling around the Isle of Dogs hunting for Abdul. Once located, the pair launched a swift and lethal attack, targeting Jalloh while he was unarmed and sitting in his vehicle.

Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 4:15pm, but despite efforts to save his life, Abdul succumbed to his injuries shortly after the incident.

How did the attackers try to cover their tracks?

Romford Recorder’s Joseph Reaidi detailed how, immediately after the attack, McKenzie and Godfrey discarded the weapon and McKenzie’s bicycle into the Thames at Caledonian Wharf.

As paramedics attempted to revive the victim, the two men were already in the process of concealing their involvement. They packed their blood-soaked clothes and footwear into bags, switched into new clothing, and dumped the bags – containing incriminating evidence – into nearby bushes.

When police recovered the bags, they found £3,000 worth of cannabis, £2,000 in cash, a vacuum sealing machine for packaging drugs, and business cards with contact details for illicit transactions.

Why did they return to the scene?

In a striking twist, McKenzie and Godfrey returned to the Thames Path where officers were actively searching for Abdul’s killers. Wearing different clothes, they moved among the police presence, apparently confident their altered appearance would shield them from suspicion.

Despite this, the weight of the evidence closed in. On 8 August 2024, just three days later, both men surrendered at a police station. They were arrested and charged the following day.

What did the police say about the conviction?

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller, from Specialist Crime North, who led the investigation, was quoted by Joseph Reaidi of the Romford Recorder saying:

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Abdul Jalloh, who lost a loved one in shocking circumstances.

By carrying and using a knife, McKenzie’s callous act demonstrates once again the devastating and far-reaching effects of knife crime.”

He praised his team’s diligence and the bravery of the local community, adding:

“I therefore commend the officers who worked incredibly hard to build evidence against McKenzie and Godfrey in order to prove that there could be no doubt as to their guilt.
London will be a safer place with them taken off the streets.
I also want to thank the local community who came forward to assist officers with footage they had on the day. They displayed immense courage in giving evidence to the court.”

When will McKenzie and Godfrey be sentenced?

Both Shamiah McKenzie and Codee Godfrey are scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, 20 June 2025, at the Old Bailey.

What is the wider context of knife crime in Tower Hamlets?

This case adds to a growing list of high-profile knife attacks in Tower Hamlets. The borough has experienced a spate of stabbings in recent years, many of which are linked to drug disputes and youth violence.

• In September 2024, a woman was fatally stabbed on Duckett Street.
• In November 2021, Mohammed Aqil Mahdi was stabbed eight times by two men in Bow, with convictions secured in July 2022.

Statistics show knife crime in Tower Hamlets rose by 13% in 2018 and has remained a pressing concern. Though the overall crime rate of 116.12 per 1,000 residents (as of September 2024) is below the London borough average, violent offences remain disproportionately high.

Why is this case significant?

The murder of Abdul Jalloh and the convictions of McKenzie and Godfrey underscore the entrenched issue of youth knife crime and its links to the illicit drug trade in East London. It also highlights the importance of public cooperation in solving violent crimes.

Thanks to community footage and detailed forensic work, the Metropolitan Police were able to secure convictions despite attempts by the suspects to cover their tracks.

The tragic loss of Abdul Jalloh serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of knife crime, and the need for continued efforts by police, local authorities, and residents to combat this violence.

This report is based on original coverage by Joseph Reaidi, Breaking News Reporter at Romford Recorder. All statements and case details are directly attributed to his reporting.