A man who stabbed Northolt resident Rory Anderson to death before stealing his mobile phone has been sentenced to life behind bars.
Alex Azadbakht was given a life sentence, and will serve a minimum of 20 years, at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday (October 21) after a jury found him guilty on Thursday (October 21).
Fellow defendants Jermaine Lewis, of Iron Mill Road, Earlsfield, and Stephan Bassily, of HMP Wormwood Scrubs, both 21, also received four-year prison sentences at the same court for perverting the course of justice.
The pair were sentenced for intentionally destroying evidence relating to the victim.
Azadbakht, of Evesham Close, Greenford, stabbed the 25-year-old four times in the back and chest with a weapon similar to an ice pick at an address in Hotspur Road on March 12.
He then tried to cover his tracks by removing the clothing and a mobile phone from the victim to avoid an arrest.
CCTV captured Mr Anderson leaving the premises and collapsing outside.
He called 999 but having only been able to ask for help, he left the line open to the police operator.
Azadbakht and Bassily then fled the scene, taking Mr Anderson's mobile phone and clothing, joined shortly after by Lewis.
The 25-year-old was taken to hospital after officers arrived at an address but he was pronounced dead four days after the stabbing.
'A gathering ended in tragedy'
Navnit Dosanjh, CPS London reviewing lawyer, said: "The prosecution was able to use CCTV footage and witness statements to piece together the defendants’ movements in court and bring about these convictions.
"Azadbakht and his accomplices are now facing significant prison terms.
"What began as a gathering in a flat in Ealing ended in tragedy.
"Rory was attacked inside the flat and made his way outside where he called the police for help.
"When the defendants saw how badly hurt Rory was, they made no attempt to help him, and instead stripped him of his phone and clothing in an attempt to mislead the police and fled the scene.
"Our sympathies go to Mr Anderson’s family at this difficult time."
The weapon and Mr Anderson's mobile phone have never been recovered.
Azadbakht was given a life sentence for the murder and four and a half years, concurrent, for perverting the course of justice.
The verdicts for the guilty trio were all unanimous, apart from Azadbakht's charge of perverting the course of justice which was 11 to one.
Shortly after the death, one neighbour told getwestlondon : "He was very polite and very friendly."
And a local barber added: "So sad to hear my best punter Rory Anderson past (sic) away last night.
"What a genuine geezer he was full of smiles and always happy-go-lucky.
"Not only to his friends but to all the local businesses around thought highly of him."
