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Life for thug who admitted champagne bottle killing
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent17.09.08
A thug who killed a record promoter with a champagne bottle on the dance floor of a City nightclub was jailed for life at the Old Bailey today.
The victim, Olu Olagbaju, known as "father" because of his sweet, peaceloving nature, was in the Shadan club in New Bridge Street celebrating his 26th birthday in December 2006.
The killer, Eritrean-born Dashem Tesfamichael, 24, of Camden, fled to Miami but was extradited to Britain. He admitted murder and was ordered to serve at least 13 years by Judge Richard Hawkins.
The court heard Mr Olagbaju, whose fiancée Terri Jacob was pregnant with their second child, was caught in a scuffle when dancers swarmed on to the floor. He was punched and struck with broken champagne bottles, one of which penetrated his heart. He died in hospital.
Five of Tesfamichael's friends were also jailed today.
Okechukwu Okpala, 25, of Hackney, Ademda Oladeji, 29, of Stoke Newington, and Uzoma Okpala, 27, of Woolwich, admitted violent disorder and were jailed for two years imprisonment.
Fernando Anyere, 22, from Enfield, who was in breach of a suspended sentence for possessing crack cocaine and admitted violent disorder, was jailed for two years and four months.
Obinna Okpala, 29, of Chafford Hundred, Essex, admitted perverting the course of justice and was jailed for two and a half years.
