An “angry” cyclist has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of at least 27 years for the murder of a BMW driver who knocked over his bike in south-east London.
Aspiring songwriter Alexandros Josephs, 29, was stabbed to death by Ahmed Chakile Gonladieu, 25, through the open window of his car on May 10, 2023.
Fatally injured, the victim ran a short distance down the road and crashed into a row of parked cars, the Old Bailey was told.
“No justification”
Sentencing Gonladieu, Judge Anuja Dhir KC said: “I cannot be sure that you intended to kill Mr Josephs.
“It has been suggested that there was also an element of provocation in the fact that Mr Josephs’ car hit and dragged your bike.
“But that can neither excuse nor justify what you did next.”
She highlighted the defendant’s immaturity and his criminal history, with 17 prior convictions for 32 felonies.
Among these cases, 11 convictions were handed down for violence and possession of weapons, including for serious assault and battery on a prisoner.
Judge Dhir KC told the defendant: “Your offending behaviour and actions on that day suggest that you are a young man who has an irascible character and that when you lose your temper you act violently.”
In a statement on the impact of the tragedy on the victim, Mr Josephs’ mother, Lana Joannou, said: “This loss is beyond compare. I will never recover from what happened.”
She condemned the defendant for his lack of remorse, saying: “I can never forgive this person for what she did. All I ask is that justice be done.”
Earlier, a witness told the court he saw Mr Josephs talking to a man on a mountain bike through the open window of the grey BMW on Malyons Road.
After a minute, the witness heard the sound of metal scraping the ground and looked out to see that the car had moved, dragging the bike along the road.
The cyclist, who was wearing dark clothing, was then seen pulling a large knife from a sheath and making a stabbing motion through the car window, jurors were told.
The car disappeared from view before the witness heard a thud and went outside to see the alleged knifeman running away.
Mr Josephs’ passenger got out of the car and shouted for help, jurors were told.
