Four jailed for 'callous' killing of taxi passenger

Anselam Senaj was stabbed in the chest after the taxi he was in was forcibly stopped by another car

Four men have been jailed for their part in the "callous and shocking" killing of a man who was stabbed through the window of a taxi in east London.

Anselam Senaj, 26, was killed when the taxi he was in was forcibly stopped by a silver Mitsubishi in Newham on 11 November 2023.

Muhammad Saqib Khan, 24, from Enfield, who was found guilty of murder, had inflicted the fatal wound, the Old Bailey was told. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 26 years.

Muhammad Samiyul Miah was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years for murder. Zain Ali was jailed for 14 years for manslaughter and Ibrahim Naim was jailed for 10 years and six months for manslaughter.

Four men have been jailed for their part in the killing of a 26-year-old in Newham in November 2023 (l-r Khan, Miah, Ali, Naim)

Sentencing them, Judge Judy Khan KC described the killing as a "callous and shocking attack" in a public street, which was "pre-meditated and planned".

Before the taxi was stopped in Victoria Avenue and he was fatally attacked, Mr Senaj had said "there is one car behind – they will kill me", the court was told.

Three of the six occupants of the Mitsubishi surrounded the cab and attacked the victim who was still in his seat.

The black-clad attackers were wearing masks and gloves with two of them wielding knives up to 2ft (60cm) long, the jury had heard.

One of the men stabbed Mr Senaj in the chest before the men got back into the Mitsubishi and fled.

Mr Senaj died at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services.

The car, which had been stolen, was found burned out the next day.

The court heard the motive for the attack was over drugs, although the exact reasons were unclear.

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC had told jurors: "It appears from the drugs subsequently found on Mr Senaj and messages received from his phone that he was involved in drug dealing.

"When Mr Senaj saw the Mitsubishi coming towards him he clearly recognised he was in danger and told the taxi driver that the occupants would kill him.

"Sadly, he was absolutely right in his assessment of their interest."

At the sentencing on Friday, the victim's cousin Elira Senaj condemned the killers, saying: "Cowards and little boys you will always be.

"You needed numbers and weapons to carry out your task. You fought like a boy not a man where it was an even playing field."

Miah, 19, from Manor Park, also admitted having a blade and his sentence reflected his separate conviction for the rape of a 15-year-old girl in a north London park in March 2023.

Ali, 22, and Naim, 18, both from East Ham, had been cleared of murder but convicted of the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Ali was also responsible for taking the victim's phone.