Man convicted of Deptford murder

A teenager has been convicted after murdering a man in Deptford after a tireless investigation by Met detectives.

It follows an extensive investigation that saw Met Police homicide detectives piece together hundreds of hours of CCTV, phone records, bank account details and DNA to secure justice for the victim’s family.

The case highlights the Met’s commitment to tackling knife crime and removing dangerous offenders from London’s streets.

Jackson Uwagboe, 19 (08.08.2006), of Hamilton Street, Lewisham, was found guilty at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 10 February of murdering 21-year-old Robert Robinson in a dispute over a stolen bicycle. He was also convicted of robbery and possession of a bladed article.

A co-defendant, Eromosele Omoluogbe, 24 (29.11.2001), of Tanners Hill, Lewisham, was convicted of perverting the course of justice. He booked Uwagboe a plane ticket for Nigeria and drove him to Heathrow airport.

Two other men, Ryan Wedderburn, 18 (29.05.06) of Windlass Place, Lewisham, and Kirk Harris, 19 (29.03.06) of Upper Brockley Road, Lewisham, were convicted of Robert's murder at the Old Bailey last year. They are currently serving life sentences.

Detective Inspector Neil Tovey from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who led the investigation, said:

“Today’s verdict brings justice for Robert Robinson and his family. Robert was subjected to a brutal and sustained attack by a group of men armed with knives. He was unarmed, already wounded, and on the ground when Uwagboe attacked him. His claims of self-defence were entirely without foundation.

“I again want to pay tribute to the Robinson family, who have shown immense dignity throughout this process. Through two trials they were forced to endure hearing those responsible attempt to excuse the inexcusable, and Uwagboe’s decision to flee the country significantly prolonged their search for justice and meant they were put through the pain through two trials.

“The conviction of Omoluogbe for perverting the course of justice reflects the seriousness of assisting a murderer to evade arrest. Anyone who chooses to help violent offenders avoid accountability is complicit in the harm caused and can expect to face the full force of the law.

“This outcome is the result of the relentless work of my officers and analyst, who reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, phone data and spoke to dozens of witnesses to build a compelling case. While homicide levels in London are falling, knife crime remains a profound concern for us and our communities. This investigation demonstrates our absolute determination to pursue offenders wherever they go and to hold them accountable for their actions.”

The investigation

Police were called at about 22:35hrs on Thursday, 6 June 2024 to reports of a stabbing in Carteret Way, Deptford. Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended but despite their best efforts the victim, later identified as Robert, sadly died at the scene.

He had suffered 12 serious stab wounds, including defensive injuries indicating he tried to protect himself from the blows.

The jury heard that earlier that day, Uwagboe had robbed a 17-year-old boy of his bicycle and phone on Deptford High Street in Deptford.

Robert was part of a group that went to the home of Uwagboe's associate, Ryan Wedderburn, in Windlass Place, Deptford, hoping they would find the bicycle and the thief.

When there was no answer at the flat, the group left the property. Some members of the group then allegedly damaged two cars belonging to the Wedderburn family.

A short time later, Uwagboe left the property in Windlass Place with friends Ryan Wedderburn and Kirk Harris. All three were armed with machetes.

They walked to nearby Carteret Way, where Robert, one of his friends and their mother, spotted the group and ran away. The mother was on the phone to 999 at the time, reporting the earlier bike robbery.

Robert was chased and overpowered by the group. He was stabbed at least 12 times and, despite the efforts of paramedics, died at the scene.

All three of the killers fled the scene. Using extensive phone records, detectives were able to show that Omoluogbe was in contact with his friend, Uwagboe, in the hours after the murder. He bought a plane ticket to Lagos, Nigeria, for £1,129.89 on Friday, 7 June 2024. Omoluogbe and his brother took Uwagboe to Heathrow the following day.

Uwagboe returned to the UK on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, when he was arrested at Gatwick Airport on suspicion of murder.

Detectives built a strong case against the men, watching hundreds of hours of CCTV, sifting through phone records from over a dozen different suspects and witnesses, and analysing bank records to piece together their movements.

DNA analysis helped link a knife found in the wake of the murder to Kirk Harris, who was convicted of murder last year. Another knife was recovered from the Thames months after the killing, but could be linked to another one of the killers – Ryan Wedderburn – through CCTV.

Uwagboe and Omoluogbe will be sentenced at the same court on a date to be fixed.