Woolwich man 'murdered with knife hidden in umbrella'

Damilola Oloruntola, 23, died after he was stabbed in the chest on Brookhill Road on September 28 last year. 

Solomon Bamidele, 26, and Mohammed Osman, 22, are on trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court accused of his murder. 

The pair saw Damilola as competition to their small-scale drugs operation, prosecutor Mark Orchard KC said. 

“We suggest that both defendants went out that afternoon intent on retribution. It appears they had concluded that someone else was approaching on what they thought was their territory,” Mr Orchard said. 

Damilola and two acquaintances were driving around Woolwich in a white Mercedes A-class shortly before the stabbing took place. 

Bamidele and Osman were also in the area and had been seen carrying a long umbrella, which they briefly stashed on top of a bin inside Royal Kebab on Woolwich New Road. 

“Given it was a sunny day, the umbrella can only have one possible motive, a container for the long knife,” Mr Orchard said. 

After spotting Damilola’s car it is alleged that Bamidele retrieved the umbrella from Royal Kebab and followed the car around the corner to Brookhill Road. 

Damilola had parked the car and was walking down the road when Bamidele stabbed him, the court heard. 

Mr Orchard said: “Bamidele took the long knife from the umbrella and lunged at Oloruntola, stabbing him once to the chest.  

“Olaruntola took about ten seconds to realise what had happened before turning and running.” 

A cab driver who witnessed the incident claims the knife was 75cm long. 

Damilola rushed back to his car and started driving. When he could no longer drive because of his injury one of his friends took over, Mr Orchard said. 

The stabbing took place at around 5.34pm and Damilola was dropped off at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital a mile away by 5.52pm. Damilola was pronounced dead at 7.11pm. 

Damilola Oloruntola was stabbed in Brookhill Road (Image: Met Police)

Bamidele and Osman also fled the scene and took a cab to Bamidele’s parents’ home on Balmoral Road in Sutton at Hone, Dartford. 

Bamidele was arrested at his girlfriend’s house three days later. He told police he acted in self defence because he thought he was going to be killed. 

Osman was arrested two weeks later when he self-presented at Plumstead Police Station. He told police he was a peacemaker in the situation and did not know that Bamidele had a knife. 

Mr Orchard said: “This was not self defence or defence of another. It was because the two defendants believed the area was theirs. We suggest that they were protecting their small-scale drugs operation.” 

He added: “We say they were both in it together. Both as involved as each other by Bamidele being the knifeman.” 

Bamidele, of Balmoral Road in Dartford, and Osman, of Spearman Street in Woolwich, both deny murder. 

Both men were also charged with possession of an offensive weapon. Bamidele has pleaded guilty to that charge but Osman denies it. 

The trial, which began on Monday (July 31), continues.