A 21-year-old who stabbed a man in the neck following a dispute over the return of his driving licence has been found guilty of manslughter.

Jason De Sousa, of no fixed abode, was convicted of the manslaughter of Joseph Olopo , of Colindale, at the Old Bailey on Tuesday August 8.

De Sousa was found not guilty of his original charge of murder.

Police were called to Heathfield Gardens, in Golders Green, on Friday February 17, following reports of a number of males fighting, the Old Bailey heard.

Mr Olopo, also 21, who had been found with a stab wound, was taken to St Mary's Hospital by the London Ambulance Service but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

De Sousa was arrested and interviewed on Wednesday February 22 after a post-mortem examination on Sunday February 19 gave cause of death as a stab wound to the neck.

He initially declined to answer questions as to how Mr Olopo died, later claiming he had acted in self defence.

The court heard that on the evening of Mr Olopo's death, he and two other men had arranged to meet with De Sousa, as they had in their possession documents belonging to each other.

The incident happened in Heathfield Gardens. (Picture: Google Maps).

De Sousa, who was keen to have his driving licence returned to him, had made veiled threats of violence against others and had given them an ultimatum to return his licence, the police said.

The defendant had turned up to the meeting that evening already armed with a knife.

A fight took place between De Sousa, Mr Olopo and the two other men who were all armed with weapons.

The fight led to Mr Olopo being stabbed in the neck by De Sousa who then ran from the scene.

He was arrested five days later in a hotel where he had spent the night using a false name, the Metropolitan Police said.

Detective Inspector Shaun Fitzgerald, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command led the investigation. He said: "This was a violent attack on a man with his whole life ahead of him.

"The dispute was over documents each person had in their possession and for that small reason, Joseph lost his life.

"I hope today's verdict will go some small way to helping Joseph's family to move on from this tragic incident."

A 17-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of affray was later released with no further action being taken against him.

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