Drug Dealer’s Killers Identified by DNA from Discarded Cigarettes

Two individuals involved in an attempted robbery of a drug dealer’s cocaine supply in south London have been convicted. Their identification was made possible by DNA evidence found on cigarettes left at the crime scene. Michael Afonso-Peixoto, aged 27, was lured to Thornton Heath in December of the previous year under the pretense of a drug purchase, only to be ambushed, according to testimony presented at the Old Bailey trial. Zak Baako, 29, of Croydon, received a murder conviction, while John Budal, 20, of Streatham, was found guilty of manslaughter. Both individuals were additionally convicted of robbery. Omari Peat, 23, from Mitcham, was acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges but was convicted of robbery. Testimony during the trial indicated that upon the victim’s arrival at Mayfield Crescent with his friend, a BMW vehicle containing five men was awaiting him. The prosecution stated that the men had occupied the BMW for 30 minutes, smoking cigarettes and discarding the stubs from the vehicle’s windows. Crispin Aylett KC commented: “In fact the five men were not interested in buying drugs from Michael Afonso-Peixoto, instead they wanted to rob him of his stash of cocaine.” According to the prosecution, CCTV footage depicted one of the men carrying a large knife, followed by an encounter between this individual and the victim. Mr Aylett stated: “Between the time of that first confrontation with the man with the knife and the time that Michael Afonso-Peixoto collapsed on to the driveway of a house further down the road, in all he was stabbed five times.” The court was informed that Mr Afonso-Peixoto sustained fatal injuries from a knife wound to his heart, resulting in his death at the location. His friend was compelled to exit her vehicle, which was then driven off by two of the assailants. Mr Aylett remarked: “Those thoughtlessly discarded cigarette butts were to prove their undoing – each of them had left traces of his DNA on one or more of the cigarettes.” He added: “Each were interviewed by police and when confronted with the DNA evidence other than to deny having been involved in the murder, none of them had anything to say for themselves.” None of the defendants presented evidence in their own defense. The prosecution stated that it was unknown whether the five men located Michael Afonso-Peixoto’s drugs, but they had robbed his friend of her car and mobile phone at knife-point, according to court proceedings. Sentencing proceedings have been postponed until 13 January.