Mugger, 24, is found guilty of murdering Omani sheikh's student son, 20, for his £34,000 Patek watch near Harrods
A man has been found guilty of murdering a wealthy Omani student near London department store Harrods.
Mohammed Al-Araimi, 20, the son of property magnate Sheikh Abdullah Al-Araimi, was fatally stabbed in an alleyway after going out for dinner with his university friend Nasser Kanoo, now 22.
Prosecutors said Badir Al-Nazi, 24, and Arseboon Dilbaro, 23, targeted the King’s College students in an attack on December 5 2019.
Prosecutors said Badir Al-Nazi, 24, left, and Arseboon Dilbaro, 23, right, targeted the King’s College students in an attack on December 5 2019
Mohammed Al-Araimi, 20, the son of property magnate Sheikh Abdullah Al-Araimi, was fatally stabbed in an alleyway after going out for dinner with his university friend Nasser Kanoo, now 22
Badir Rahim Al-Nazi, left, was convicted of Mr Al-Araimi's murder while his accomplice Arseboon Dibaro was convicted of wounding Mr Al-Araimi's friend Nasser Kanoo
Mr Al-Araimi was wearing a £34,000 Patek Philippe watch, while Mr Kanoo, who was also stabbed, had a £7,000 Rolex.
The two friends were less than 10 metres down an alleyway when they were set upon from behind in the attack, which was captured on CCTV.
Kuwaiti citizen Al-Nazi admitted manslaughter and having a knife but denied murder, claiming he did not mean to stab Mr Al-Araimi, while German national Dilbaro blamed the stabbings on his co-defendant.
Both men were acquitted of attempted robbery, but a jury at Inner London Crown Court on Friday found Al-Nazi guilty of murder and wounding Mr Kanoo with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
Dilbaro was acquitted of murder, manslaughter and having a knife but found guilty of wounding Mr Kanoo.
Judge Usha Karusaid adjourned sentencing until September 10.
The court heard Mr Al-Araimi and Mr Kanoo were attacked following a dinner at Sale E Pepe after meeting outside the Bulgari Hotel close to Mr Al-Araimi’s family home.
The friends were attacked near Harrods after leaving a nearby restaurant in December 2019
Prosecutor Anthony Orchard QC told jurors: “Unfortunately for them, the two friends, Mohammed and Nasser, were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Giving evidence at the trial by video-link from Bahrain, Mr Kanoo described his friend as the “nicest guy” and said they were targeted in a “very sudden” and “quick attack”.
Mr Kanoo said it was “a very shocking moment”, adding: “This is something so sudden… My heart is racing.”
Mr Al-Araimi collapsed near the Harrods Christmas tree and was pronounced dead just 40 minutes after suffering a single stab wound to the chest, while Mr Kanoo needed stitches for a wound to his back.
Al-Nazi and Dilbaro both denied they had set out that night with the intention to rob.
Al-Nazi said he did not realise he had stabbed Mr Al-Araimi at the time, telling jurors he had wanted an apology after an Arabic insult was shouted at him when he asked for a cigarette.