Three men convicted following death of man in Thornton Heath

A man has been convicted of murder after he was identified following the forensic analysis of discarded cigarettes at the scene.

Zak Baako, 29 (06.08.95) of no fixed address was found guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday, 20 December of offences including the murder of 27-year-old Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto.

On 19 December 2023, police were called to Mayfield Crescent in Thornton Heath at around 22:30hrs following reports of a man being seriously assaulted.

Officers arrived alongside the London Ambulance Service and located Michael on the floor with multiple stab wounds.

He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene and a murder investigation was launched by detective from the Specialist Crime Command.

Enquiries revealed that a group of men were seen arriving at Mayfield Crescent and waiting in a white BMW for around 30 minutes. Michael and a friend arrive at the location in a Vauxhall Grandland.

Michael got out of the car and was confronted by a man holding a large knife.

Michael was stabbed multiple times, including once in the chest, as he attempted to get back to the car. The suspects then threatened his friend with a knife and forced her out of the car, before stealing it. The car was located abandoned nearby.

During searches of the area following Michael’s death, officers located cigarette butts on the floor, near to where the BMW was parked.

Following forensic analysis, these were matched to Baako, John Budal, 20 (07.03.04) of Ena Road, Thornton Heath, and Omari Peat, 23 (01.03.01) of Southampton Gardens, Mitcham.

All three were arrested and charged with murder and robbery within a month.

Following a four-week-trial at the Old Bailey, the jury returned with verdicts on Friday, 20 December.

Zak Baako was found guilty of murder and robbery.

John Budal was found not guilty of murder, and guilty of manslaughter and robbery.

Omari Peat was found not guilty of murder or manslaughter, and guilty of robbery.

All three men will appear at the Old Bailey on 13 January 2025 for sentencing.

Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe said: “Zak Baako arrived that day, armed with a knife and was prepared to use it against Michael Afonso Peixoto.

“It’s been just over a year since Michael was killed, leaving his family including his young son devastated.

“Whilst this Christmas will be no easier than the last for his family, I hope that this result allows them to start moving forward.”