Drug addict found guilty of Shoreditch murder
Salieu Seray-Wurie, 26, killed 47-year-old Darren Ammon at his flat last October
Last updated 30th Aug 2023
A drug addict who bound and strangled a man, and stole his television worth £15, has been found guilty of murder.
Salieu Seray-Wurie, 26, killed 47-year-old Darren Ammon at his flat in Shoreditch, east London, last October 15.
Homeless Seray-Wurie denied intending to seriously hurt Mr Ammon but was found guilty of murder having already admitted manslaughter and stealing the victim's TV.
**a tragic case where a man has needlessly lost his life for the sake of a few pounds**
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, said: “This is a tragic case where a man has needlessly lost his life for the sake of a few pounds. Whilst Darren’s lifestyle may have been chaotic, at the time of his death he was offering the defendant a place to stay. An argument over money escalated, resulting in Darren being killed, and left alone in his flat.
“I would like to praise his family, who have had to sit in court and listen to the details about Darren’s death. They have shown dignity and our thoughts today remain with them.”
On 19 October 2022, police received a report from a member of the public who was concerned about the wellbeing of a man in Kirton Gardens, E2. Officers attended and found Darren, bound and covered with a duvet; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as compression to the neck. It was also established that Darren had been killed several days prior to being found.
A forensic examination of the crime scene found Seray-Wurie’s fingerprints on the front door.
The investigation established that Seray-Wurie – who had been staying with Darren – was in need of money to fund his drug habit. He believed that Darren had taken his bank card, resulting in an argument and finally, the fatal assault.
After the attack, Seray-Wurie stole Darren’s television and pawned it later that day before travelling to Slough.
He was arrested last October 22 and claimed in a police interview not to have been present at the time of Mr Ammon's death.
The defendant went on to accept being responsible to Mr Ammon's death and pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the second day of his trial.
It took a jury an hour and 25 minutes to reach a guilty verdict on Wednesday and Seray-Wurie will be sentenced on Thursday at the Old Bailey.