A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his cousin in Battersea.

Jerome Bailey, of Victor Road, Teddington, was sentenced with a minimum term of 18 years following a hearing at Croydon Crown Court today (April 1).

Bailey, 40, had been found guilty of murdering 40-year-old Tesfa Campbell following a trial at Croydon Crown Court which concluded on January 21, 2020.

The court heard how at 2.45pm on Wednesday, July 3, 2019, in Latchmere Road, Battersea, Bailey fatally stabbed Mr Campbell in the abdomen.

Mr Campbell died later in hospital.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie who leads one of the Met’s murder investigation teams said: “I am pleased that Jerome Bailey has finally been sentenced for this horrific attack on Tesfa Campbell.

“The delays in concluding this case have extended the pain that Tesfa’s family and friends have had to endure but I can only hope that this 18-year prison sentence helps them all in some way.

“Bailey has never confirmed why this meeting between the two cousins ended with Tesfa losing his life at the hands of another family member.

“However, it is clear that Bailey’s violent attack had devastating consequences which will continue to have an impact on many people’s lives for years to come.”

On the day of the murder, Bailey travelled from Teddington to Battersea having arranged to meet Mr Campbell – Officers say the reason for the meeting is unclear.

In the aftermath of the attack, members of the public and emergency services rushed to Mr Campbell’s assistance, but despite their efforts, he passed away.

A murder investigation was launched, and through CCTV, detectives identified Bailey as the offender.

The CCTV captured the two men - Campbell and Bailey - walking down Burns Road, toward Latchmere Road, two minutes before Mr Campbell was stabbed.

In the footage, Mr Campbell is seen carrying a large, bright yellow, drawstring bag, which was not in his possession when he collapsed.

Bailey was later caught on CCTV walking away from the scene, carrying the distinctive yellow bag.

On Sunday, July 7, 2019, officers arrested Bailey at a property in Teddington.

When police searched the address, two yellow plastic drawstring bags of exactly the same kind as the one which had been taken from Mr Campbell were found in the back garden.

Police also discovered the Oyster card that Bailey used to make his journey from Teddington to Battersea in the bottom of one of those yellow bags.

The court heard how the cousins had once been close, with Mr Campbell often having been willing in the past to help Bailey out - for example by lending him money.

However, this had recently begun to change with Mr Campbell telling other family members he “had reached the point where he was going to cut him [Bailey] off.”