Holloway minicab driver who took knife gang to murder innocent student caught after international manhuntA Holloway minicab driver who ferried a knife gang around as they hunted and brutally murdered an innocent student has been jailed after an international manhunt.
Kyriacos Phantis, 56, of Carleton Road, went on the run after being charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of 20-year-old Mohammed Abdullahi in York Way, Holloway, last year.
He was tracked down to Cyprus, arrested and returned to the UK on Sunday by a specialist Met Police team.
On Monday at the Old Bailey he was handed an additional nine months in jail on top of the three year term he was given in his absence.
During his trial, the court heard how Phantis drove the knifemen – Kyle Sober-Froud, 20, Calvin Jerelle Collins, 19, and Dean Winston, 20 – around north London on the hunt for those responsible for a shooting outside Winston’s home earlier that evening.
The trio mistakenly believed Mr Abdullahi was behind the gunfire and when Phantis took them to York Way CCTV footage showed them punching, kicking and knifing their victim.
Phantis then drove them from the scene as the criminology student lay dying on the pavement, the court heard.
Prosecutor Kate Wilkinson said Phantis, who was employed by Fleet Cars in Junction Road, Tufnell Park, drove the gang around for 40 minutes.
She said: “The three men attacked and killed Mr Abdullahi in just over one minute, then ran to the waiting car and were driven away by Mr Phantis.”
Phantis had been placed on bail and was due to be tried separately, but he failed to appear at the Old Bailey, sparking the search.
At an earlier trial Winston, 19, of Torriano Avenue, Kentish Town, and Collins, 19, of Bloomsbury Street, Bloomsbury were found guilty of murder.
Kyle Sober-Froud, 19, of Bloomsbury Street, Bloomsbury, pleaded guilty to murder in February.
source:
http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/ ... _1_3797585
Login
Register
FAQ
