Intricate police investigation results in five murder convictions

An investigation by London’s Metropolitan Police into the murders of Saydi Abu Sheikh and Zakariya Jeilani Mohamed has led to a total of five men being convicted at the Old Bailey.

The two victims were fatally shot inside a house in Ilford in October 2022. Detectives used DNA analysis and other technical and forensic techniques to identify and arrest the suspects.

Four men were convicted of two counts of murder; two counts of attempted murder and perverting the course of justice. They are:

20-year-old Ayaani Ali Adan of East Street, Barking; 21-year-old Zain Mirza of Third Avenue, Newham; 22-year-old Mahad Gouled of Charles Street, Enfield; and 21-year-old Chibiuke Ohanweh of Heath Park Road, Romford.

A fifth man - 19-year-old Zakarie Mohamed of Kensal Rise, Kensington - pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. He was found not guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Adan, Mirza, Gouled and Ohanweh were all sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 38 years. Mohamed was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for his role.

An investigation was launched after police were called at 00:16hrs on 25 October 2022 to reports of a shooting inside a house on Henley Road in Ilford. Armed officers attended along with local officers and paramedics.

23-year-old Saydi Abu Sheikh and 32-year-old Zakariya Jeilani Mohamed, who were both from Ilford, died at the scene. Two other men were found suffering injuries; both were taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged.

A police investigation was launched, led by officers from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command. They quickly established that a vehicle found on fire in Ronnie Lane, near to the murder scene, was linked to the fatal shootings.

Detectives identified multiple CCTV sources which showed that vehicle, a white Mitsubishi Outlander, transporting four men to and from the scene. A search of the burnt our Mitsubishi recovered four hoodies and four pairs of tracksuit bottoms, which were linked to the murders through gunshot residue and blood stains found to contain the DNA of Mr Sheikh.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Wood, Homicide and Major Crime, led the investigation and said: “The three men who entered the house were identified through forensic examination of the recovered clothing as Adan, Gouled and Ohanweh. Each was armed with a gun and at least 41 shots were fired inside the house.

“Zain Mirza facilitated the murder. He was linked to the gunmen after extensive police enquiries established that a rented address in Durham Road, Manor Park had been used as a base to plan the murder. It is believed he planned the fatal attack as he understood at least one person present at the Henley Road address was in some way connected to the murder of his brother.

“My thoughts are with the families of Saydi and Zakariya. As much as it was crucial to identify the reckless and callous individuals responsible for these brutal killings to safeguard the community, I am also pleased that both families were able to see justice done with these convictions.”