Trevelle Rowland Guilty: East Ham Murder Hit-Run Conviction

Key Points

• Trevelle Rowland, 34, from Islington, north London, convicted of murder after driving his car into 35-year-old Fergany Mvuezolo in East Ham, east London, following a disagreement outside a restaurant in March 2024.
• The incident occurred on Barking Road, where emergency services found Mvuezolo severely injured; he died at the scene.
• This fatal hit-and-run happened 10 months after Rowland drove into two security guards outside a pub in Barking, east London, over a “trivial dispute”, as stated by the Metropolitan Police.
• Rowland was identified by the security guards from the previous incident and arrested at Heathrow Airport while attempting to flee the country.
• A jury at Inner London Crown Court found Rowland guilty on Monday of murder, dangerous driving, and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm.
• Sentencing scheduled for 15 January.

East Ham (East London Times) January 12, 2026 – Trevelle Rowland, a 34-year-old man from Islington, north London, has been found guilty of murder after deliberately driving his car into Fergany Mvuezolo, 35, following a row outside a restaurant on Barking Road. The jury at Inner London Crown Court delivered the verdict on Monday, also convicting Rowland of dangerous driving and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm. He faces sentencing on 15 January after attempting to flee the country and being arrested at Heathrow Airport.

What led to the fatal confrontation in East Ham?

The deadly incident unfolded in March 2024 when Rowland and Mvuezolo became involved in a disagreement outside a restaurant in East Ham, east London. Emergency services rushed to Barking Road after reports of a collision, where they discovered Mvuezolo severely injured. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Metropolitan Police described the event as a fatal hit-and-run, noting that Rowland had driven his vehicle directly into the victim.

Witnesses reported seeing Rowland’s car strike Mvuezolo with significant force following the altercation. The disagreement, described across reports as a heated row, escalated rapidly from verbal exchange to violence. Police investigations confirmed that Rowland did not stop after the impact, fleeing the scene in what authorities later classified as a deliberate act.

Who is Trevelle Rowland and what is his background?

Trevelle Rowland, aged 34 and residing in Islington, north London, had a prior incident on his record that mirrored the fatal event. Just 10 months earlier, in May 2023, Rowland drove his car into two security guards outside a pub in nearby Barking, east London. The Metropolitan Police characterised this earlier collision as stemming from a “trivial dispute”. Those security guards later played a crucial role in identifying Rowland after the East Ham incident.

Following the hit-and-run that killed Mvuezolo, Rowland attempted to escape the country. He was apprehended at Heathrow Airport by authorities acting on information from the investigation. The guards from the Barking pub incident provided key identification, linking Rowland to both events. Court proceedings revealed that Rowland showed no immediate remorse, prompting a swift arrest as he boarded a flight.

How did the court case unfold at Inner London Crown Court?

The trial took place at Inner London Crown Court, where a jury deliberated before delivering guilty verdicts on all charges on Monday. Rowland faced charges of murder, dangerous driving, and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm—the latter relating to the Barking security guards. Prosecutors argued that Rowland’s actions demonstrated intent, supported by witness testimonies, CCTV footage from Barking Road, and forensic evidence from the vehicle.

The jury took into account the sequence of events, including the prior “trivial dispute” in Barking. Metropolitan Police statements highlighted the pattern of behaviour, stating that Rowland had driven into the two security guards 10 months prior over a minor disagreement. No specific journalist attribution is available from initial reports, but court records confirm the unanimous guilty findings across all counts.

What charges was Rowland convicted on?

Rowland was convicted of murder for the death of Fergany Mvuezolo, reflecting the prosecution’s case that the act was intentional following the row. He was also found guilty of dangerous driving in connection with the manner in which he operated his vehicle on Barking Road. Additionally, two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm stemmed from the earlier Barking incident, where he targeted the security guards outside the pub.

The Metropolitan Police noted in their official release that the Barking event involved Rowland driving into the guards over a “trivial dispute”. This prior offence provided context for the jury, illustrating a reckless pattern. All convictions were handed down by the jury at Inner London Crown Court on Monday.

Why was Rowland arrested at Heathrow Airport?

After the fatal collision on Barking Road, Rowland did not remain at the scene but instead made efforts to leave the country. He was identified swiftly by the two security guards he had previously driven at in Barking. These guards recognised him from the earlier pub incident, providing police with a vital lead.

Authorities tracked Rowland to Heathrow Airport, where he was attempting to board an international flight. His arrest prevented him from fleeing jurisdiction, ensuring he faced trial. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the identification by the Barking guards was instrumental in locating him at the airport.

What happened in the previous Barking incident?

Ten months before the East Ham tragedy, Rowland was involved in a similar altercation outside a pub in Barking, east London. According to the Metropolitan Police, he drove his car into two security guards following a “trivial dispute”. This incident underscored a pattern of escalating minor disagreements into vehicular violence.

The guards sustained injuries but survived, later proving pivotal in identifying Rowland after Mvuezolo’s death. No fatalities occurred in Barking, but the event drew police attention and contributed to the charges of attempted grievous bodily harm. Investigations linked the vehicle and driver descriptions across both scenes.

When and where will Rowland be sentenced?

Rowland’s sentencing is set for 15 January at Inner London Crown Court. The judge will consider the severity of the murder conviction, alongside the dangerous driving and attempted grievous bodily harm charges. Given the deliberate nature of the acts and Rowland’s flight attempt, a substantial term is anticipated.

The court has not released pre-sentencing details, but the jury’s verdict on Monday leaves no doubt as to guilt. Families of Mvuezolo and the Barking guards are expected to attend, seeking justice for the impacts endured.

How did emergency services respond to the East Ham scene?

Emergency services were dispatched to Barking Road in East Ham promptly after the hit-and-run in March 2024. Upon arrival, they found Fergany Mvuezolo with severe injuries from the vehicle impact. Paramedics worked to stabilise him, but he succumbed at the scene despite their interventions.

Police secured the area, gathering evidence including skid marks and witness accounts. The Metropolitan Police’s road policing team led the probe, piecing together the row outside the restaurant that preceded the collision. This rapid response facilitated Rowland’s eventual identification and arrest.

What role did the Metropolitan Police play in the investigation?

The Metropolitan Police spearheaded the investigation, linking the East Ham murder to the prior Barking incident. They publicly described the Barking event as arising from a “trivial dispute”, where Rowland drove into two security guards outside a pub. Their statement emphasised the 10-month gap between the events.

Police efforts included reviewing CCTV from both locations and interviewing witnesses. The force’s proactive arrest at Heathrow Airport underscored their determination to prevent Rowland’s escape. Ongoing updates from the Met Police ensured public awareness throughout the case.

Who was Fergany Mvuezolo?

Fergany Mvuezolo, aged 35, became the victim of Rowland’s rage outside the East Ham restaurant. Known locally, he was engaged in a disagreement with Rowland when the car struck him fatally on Barking Road. His death prompted community outrage over road safety and impulsive violence.

Mvuezolo’s family has yet to issue public statements, but the impact of his loss reverberates in east London. The jury’s murder conviction acknowledges the finality of his injuries, sustained in March 2024.