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Father 'murdered on way to see newborn son'
Ben Bailey14 Sep 2009
A father was stabbed through the heart as he waited at a bus stop on his way to see his newborn son, the Old Bailey heard today.
Amateur boxer John "King" Abbey, 26, was with his three-year-old daughter when he was attacked in January.
He died an hour later at the Mayday Hospital, Croydon, south London - the same hospital where, in a "terrible irony", his partner Natra had given birth earlier that day.
Charles Acquaah, 22, of Greenside Road, Croydon, denies murder, claiming he acted in self-defence.
But Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, said Mr Abbey was innocently waiting for a bus in London Road, Croydon, with his daughter.
He added: "Sadly, she bore witness to her father's murder."
When the child was reunited with her mother a few hours later, she asked her: "Did you see who did this?" She replied "Junior", a name by which Acquaah was known by, said Mr Altman.
He said there had been trouble between the two Ghanaian men in the months leading up to the death.
They had met accidentally in London Road and an argument broke out.
But witnesses said Mr Abbey had not struck any blows against Acquaah, who had allegedly gone there with a knife.
He was only seen to push Acquaah away with the palms of his hands, the court heard.
Acquaah had stabbed Mr Abbey "in an act of pure revenge", said Mr Altman.
Mr King had boxed for Ghana in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and had remained in the UK.
He was short of money and got a job with a recycling centre using his friend Acquaah's details.
Acquaah had allowed him to have his money paid into his bank account - but Mr Abbey changed the arrangement after finding some of the money was missing.
This had angered Acquaah who had made allegations against him and threatened to kill him. Mr Abbey had been forced to resign from the job, said Mr Altman.
Reader views (2)
"Mr King had boxed for Ghana in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and had remained in the UK". What?!!! So he comes to compete in a sports event and then just stays here illegally for six years - and no-one does anything, even though an illegal immigrant is clearly visiting a state-run hospital? I wonder what the status of both his "partner" and the murderer are? This country is SUCH a joke.
- Martin Warwick, Ealing, 02/10/2009 12:35
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So as an illegal immigrant had he obeyed the laws of this country he would still be alive?
And before all you overly sensitive Liberals-Lefties start jumping up and down, I do not condone his murder.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 02/10/2009 11:35
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