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Bouncer killed in cannabis row
By Justin Davenport, Evening Standard Crime Correspondent Last updated at 00:00am on 08.07.04A pub bouncer was stabbed to death as he tried to stop a customer smoking cannabis.
Issiaka Salawu, 24, was attacked by a group of between six and eight youths, including some girls, it was revealed today.
Mr Salawu - a doorman registered with Kensington and Chelsea council - was working at the Elgin in Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill. He asked a youth sitting outside the pub to put out a joint he was smoking openly.
There was a confrontation and the youth called friends to the scene. The gang surrounded the doorman and attacked him.
Mr Salawu, a computer studies student known as "Easy", suffered stab wounds in the back.
He was taken to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, but died shortly after arrival.
A post-mortem examination at Westminster gave cause of death as massive loss of blood from injuries and police say they are keeping an "open mind" regarding motive.
The attack happened at about 8pm on Sunday as a crowd of 150 people watched the finals of the Euro 2004 soccer championship live on television. A number of people were sitting at tables outside the pub.
The suspects are described as being Arabic in appearance.
Some of them are believed to have been alerted by a call on a mobile phone and arrived at the pub in a black VW Golf with blacked out windows. Several then fled in the same car, a Yard spokesman said.
Police are appealing for anyone with information about the car to contact them.
Five men were arrested and released on bail. They include three men aged 18, 19 and 25 and two women aged 22 and 18.
Detective Inspector Alistair Tully of the Serious Crime Directorate said: "Witnesses have described this as a frenzied and vicious attack.
"We are urging witnesses or anyone with information to contact-the incident room on 020 8358 0400." Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The killing comes in the wake of the relaxation of the cannabis laws, a move that has led to confusion about how to police public use of the drug.
The Association of Chief Police Officers drew up guidelines saying arrests should be made only in aggravated circumstances, such as when the drug is being smoked by under-18s, near schools or by someone thought to be causing a public order problem.
Most of those caught in possession of the drug can expect confiscation and a routine warning.
