Man gets life sentence for stabbing friend over debt in London

Fawaz Abdulkareem has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Daniel Manuel in Vauxhall, London, following an argument over a debt. Jurors at Croydon Crown Court unanimously convicted Abdulkareem, 36, of murder and possession of a bladed article on May 21, 2026. He received a minimum sentence of 17 years.

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Daniel was murdered in a moment of extreme violence by a man he thought was his friend.

The fatal stabbing occurred at a flat on Bondway after a dispute over money owed by Abdulkareem. Prosecutors stated the argument escalated after the men returned from a nightclub. Police identified Abdulkareem as the attacker and arrested him at the scene. He attempted to mislead investigators and dispose of the weapon by throwing it from a 14th-floor window.

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Abdulkareem tried to deceive police, recklessly throwing the murder weapon from the window of the 14th floor of a tower block and cruelly claiming it was Daniel who had attacked him.

Detective Inspector Luke Hampton, who led the investigation, stated that Abdulkareem tried to deceive police and falsely claimed Daniel had attacked him. The jury dismissed Abdulkareem's claims of self-defense. Evidence suggested the victim was stabbed while his back was turned, contradicting the defendant's account.

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Daniel was not just my husband, he was my partner, my home, my emotional safety and the person I built my entire life around.

Daniel Manuel, 32, was found with three stab wounds in the building's lobby. Paramedics attempted emergency first aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Daniel's wife, Zulal, shared the profound impact of his loss, describing him as her partner, home, and emotional safety. She stated his violent and sudden death had shattered her world and affected every aspect of her life.

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Losing him in such a violent and sudden way has completely shattered my world.