Drug addict 'strangled a man and sold his TV for £15'

Darren Ammon was discovered tied up at his home in Kirton Gardens

A drug-user tied up and strangled a man before selling the victim's TV for £15, the Old Bailey heard.

Salieu Seray-Wurie, 26, is accused of murdering Darren Ammon, 47, at an east London flat last October.

On the first day of the trial, Seray-Wurie denied murder and manslaughter, but pleaded guilty to stealing a TV.

He then changed his plea in front a jury to plead guilty to manslaughter on 22 August, the second day of the trial.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Jacqueline Carey KC said the killing appeared to have been motivated by an argument over a bank card.

On 15 October 2022 Darren Ammon had made a 999 call asking for the police to help remove someone from his flat who was refusing to leave, the prosecutor said.

In the background to the call a voice could be heard demanding that Darren "give me my money back", with Darren replying "what money? I don't owe you no money".

When police arrived at the flat the defendant was asked to leave but returned shortly afterwards.

A neighbour reported hearing an argument over money and Darren saying "no, no" as though someone had their hands on his throat, the court heard.

Three days later, after Darren had not been seen again, the neighbour reported the incident to police who forced entry to the flat.

'Carrying a large TV'

Under a sleeping bag on the living room floor they discovered the body of Darren Ammon with his knees tied together with a belt, his hands bound with a t-shirt and a cord looped three times around his neck, the court heard.

After killing Mr Ammon, the defendant of no fixed address, then stole the victim's TV and wallet and sold the TV for £15 little over an hour later, the prosecution said.

• Man found strangled named by police

CCTV played to the jury showed the defendant walking away from the flat carrying a large TV, which he sold at a shop in Bethnal Green claiming he had found it on a rubbish tip.

"Whether Mr Ammon was tied up before, during or after the fatal attack is not known," said Jacqueline Carey.

"But it is clear that ensuring that Mr Ammon either could not defend himself or could not summon assistance would have taken some time, some strength and some thought.

"The prosecution says it took all those three things and it was the defendant who strangled Darren Ammon that afternoon."

Mr Ammon lived alone in his flat in Kirton Gardens, Shoreditch, and was a "much loved father and son" who had been helped and supported by a homeless charity, the court heard.

He was also a class A drug addict who lived a "hand to mouth" existence and who had let Mr Seray-Wurie stay at his flat.

Mr Seray-Wurie was arrested on 22 October at Forest Gate police station.

The trial continues.

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