DRUG dealer Malachi Lindo faces life imprisonment for the murder of London-based Irishman Philip Steels.
The 27-year-old was found guilty of killing the 51-year-old Sligo man at the Old Bailey in Central London yesterday, where he will be sentenced on Monday.
In an emotionally charged case, the court heard how Lindo, of Bowles Green in Enfield, caved Mr Steels’ face in with a brick while high on a cocktail of drugs in the early hours of Thursday, September 4, 2014.
Hours earlier Mr Steels, a father-of-four who was living in Burncroft Avenue, Enfield, but made regular trips back home to see his family in Sligo, had been drinking at home before heading out to see friends.
The court heard that the was agitated when he later left his friend’s home, due to a long-running feud with a neighbour, and became involved in an altercation with Lindo while walking along Green Street.
A fight broke out between the pair, who were strangers, which saw Mr Steels fall to the ground, at which point Lindo grabbed a house brick from a nearby pile of rubble and smashed it into the charity worker’s face, leaving fatal injuries described as “horrific” in court.
Leaving Mr Steels in a pool of his own blood, Lindo crossed the road and sat next to a parked white Audi A3 for 15minutes before running off along Hertford Road when he spotted police arriving at the scene at around 1.45am.
Police caught up with and arrested Lindo, who told officers he had taken a cocktail of drugs, including cannabis, cocaine and MDMA, before spitting at them and asking if he could go home, saying ‘I promise I won't kill again’.
Mr Steels was pronounced dead at the scene, where Lindo’s bag was found containing a large quantity of drugs and related paraphernalia, the arresting police officers confirmed in court.
A later search of Lindo’s home revealed more drugs paraphernalia and the killer eventually confirmed to officers that he was actively dealing drugs at the time.
"This was a horrendous attack on an innocent member of the public, brought about by a complicated and confused individual being high on a cocktail of drugs,” Investigating officer, Acting Detective Sergeant Mike Stubbins said as the verdict was reached.
“This is a tragic case where an innocent member of the public has felt the wrath of a young man whose life had been unravelling and who had turned to experimenting with illegal substances,” he added. "Unfortunately he has let out his frustration on the first person he has seen leading to the death of Philip Steels.
"The investigating team worked tirelessly to bring this defendant to justice and to try and bring some form of relief to the family of Mr Steels. I only hope that over time the horrible facts of Mr Steels’ death fade in the minds of his family and friends and this result is able to bring an element of closure to this tragic incident."
Lindo, who admitted manslaughter but denied murder, was convicted of a single count of murder on Thursday, March 12 and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Monday, March 15.
