Boy jailed for murder of teenager stabbed to death in Brighton
17-year-old Mustafa Momand was attacked in a row over a drug debt
A boy who stabbed a 17-year-old man to death in Brighton city centre in a row over a drug debt has been jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years for his murder.
Mustafa Momand sustained a single stab wound to the chest during the attack in Queens Road on October 5th last year.
Judge Mr Justice Adam Constable KC officially lifted a reporting restriction on 16-year-old Armin Mehdikhani-Sarvejani from Southwick during his sentencing on Thursday (May 2nd), allowing his name to be published for the first time.
He was found guilty at Brighton Crown Court in March following a two-week trial.
Jurors heard that the pair were known to each other, and that Mustafa had racked up a shared drug debt of £20,000.
During the trial, Mustafa’s parents revealed how they “begged” police to send their 17-year-old son to prison to get him away from drug dealing.
Jurors had heard when Mustafa turned 16, things “got worse” and his behaviour changed, his parents found weapons in his pockets and he went missing for days on occasion, coming back with valuable items or injuries.
Mustafa had moved to the UK from Afghanistan with his family in 2009 when he was three years old, and in late 2021 his mother found cannabis in his room and suspected he was using or dealing drugs.
The attack happened at around 5pm that day, with emergency crews arriving at the scene to find members of the public already delivering first aid.
The court heard that Mustafa had tried to run for around 150 metres after being stabbed by a large kitchen knife.
Witnesses described seeing him in an altercation with another boy at the junction of Queens Road and Gloucester Road, before being chased north towards the railway station and collapsing outside the Ibis Hotel.
Mustafa was taken to hospital, where he was sadly confirmed dead.
Mehdikhani-Sarvejahani, who was seen to be carrying a large knife, fled along Gloucester Road and was later seen on CCTV moving towards Preston Circus.
An urgent manhunt was launched and, at 6.15pm, officers attending a seemingly unrelated incident spotted him and arrested him in The Avenue, Bevendean – around two and a half miles away from the scene.
He was wearing the same clothing described by witnesses of the incident, stained with what was later to be confirmed as Mustafa’s blood.
Mehdikhani-Sarvejahani was subsequently charged with murder, as well as making threats with a bladed article and threats with an offensive weapon in relation to two unrelated incidents.
He was found guilty of murder and making threats with a blade, and not guilty of making threats with an offensive weapon.
Detective Chief Inspector Alex Campbell, of Sussex and Surrey Police’s Major Crime Team, said:
"Mustafa Momand lost his life in the most tragic circumstances and our thoughts remain, as they have throughout this investigation, with his family and loved ones.
“No verdict can make up for the devastation caused by this senseless act of violence, but this outcome means Mustafa’s killer will now face justice for his crimes.
“I would like to commend the initial responders and investigative team for their diligent work to secure this conviction and we will now look ahead to sentencing.”
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Yates, Sussex Police’s lead for knife crime and serious violence, said:
"The events of October 5th are another tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of carrying a knife.
"One young life has been cruelly cut short, while another boy has been convicted of his murder.
"Every day, Sussex Police and our partners will keep doing all we can to tackle knife crime. That means tirelessly engaging with young people to educate them on the dangers as early as possible; working with people already in contact with authorities to steer them away from crime and carrying out enforcement action to target perpetrators.
"Sussex is a safe place - figures show knife offences in the county are well below the national average, but any knife on the streets is one too many.
"Please, do not feel that you have to carry a weapon. You are putting yourself and others in danger. It’s not worth the risk."