Disturbing CCTV footage has emerged showing the final moments of Michael Ababio, an 18-year-old who was chased through the streets of Coventry before being fatally stabbed outside Foleshill Library earlier this year.
The harrowing images capture Michael desperately trying to escape a group of attackers who pursued him on foot and electric bikes. Despite his efforts to evade them, he was eventually cornered beside the library on Broad Street, where he was stabbed and left critically injured on 22 February.
Michael had earlier been confronted by four teenagers near a mosque, and at around 9pm that evening the group gave chase once more. A separate man, aged 19, was also assaulted and stabbed in the incident but survived his injuries.
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Subsequent police investigations led to the arrest of several individuals involved in the attack. Ismail Nabeel, aged 18 from Coventry, pleaded guilty to manslaughter but was found guilty of murder at Warwick Crown Court following a trial. A 17-year-old, who cannot be named due to legal restrictions, admitted to murder. Meanwhile, Mahad Mohammed, 19, and Shakeel Ahmed, 18, had previously entered guilty pleas to manslaughter.
Officers revealed that members of the group attempted to avoid capture after the killing; one individual fled to Pakistan but was quickly identified and apprehended.
The four defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in October.
Michael’s twin brother paid a heartfelt tribute, describing their bond: “Most people won’t know what it is like to have a twin, but I do. Michael was more than just a brother, he was my second half. He aligned with everything that I liked. Words cannot express the pain we are all feeling right now.”
Detective Inspector Nigel Box, who led the investigation, commented: “Michael’s death was a tragic and senseless loss of life. He was attacked by this group, two of whom pursued and cornered him next to the library before stabbing him.
“Since the killing, our officers have worked relentlessly to identify suspects, charge them and secure prosecutions. We hope this conviction will bring some sense of justice for Michael’s family and friends.
“The level of premeditation in this case, along with the efforts the defendants made to avoid arrest, show how deliberate and knowingly wrong their actions were.”