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Revenge attack killer who fled police is jailed

Norfolk Police Police custody photo of Junior Suleimane against a grey background. He is wearing a plain blue crew neck jumper, has short brown curly hair and brown eyes.Norfolk Police
Investigators worked with specialist officers to provide an armed response until Junior Suleimane was apprehended on a bus in West Yorkshire

A man who stabbed a rival in a revenge attack before fleeing across England has been jailed for a minimum of 23 years.

Felizardo Jose Vieira-Balde, 23, was found fatally injured in an alleyway off Wellington Road in Great Yarmouth at about 12:45 GMT on 8 February 2023.

Junior Suleimane, 22, of Market Place, Great Yarmouth, stabbed his victim in the chest before fleeing with his uncle to nearby Loddon, then on to Cambridge and Leeds, where the pair were arrested on a bus.

Suleimane was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment at Norwich Crown Court after he was convicted after he was found guilty of murder following a trial .

Norfolk Police Image of Felizardo Jose Viera-Balde. He is wearing a black T-shirt and is stood in front of an orange background looking just above the camera. Norfolk Police
Felizardo Jose Viera-Balde, 23, was attacked in Great Yarmouth and died in an alleyway off Wellington Road

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.

CCTV showed Suleimane enter a shop on St Peter's Road in the company of his uncle.

Police said Suleimaine blamed Mr Viera-Balde for a previous fight in which he was injured.

After the stabbing, he and his uncle changed their clothing and left a flat complex at Caesar’s Palace at about 14:00.

After the pair fled to Loddon and Cambridge, police said they were tracked to Leeds City Bus Station where they were arrested.

Martin Barber/BBC Three bouquets of flowers which have been placed against a brick wall. One bouquet has bright pink wrapping and the other two (in the centre and on the left) are wrapped in a cream colour paper. Written on the bouquet in the centre a message reads: "We didn't know you but our thoughts are with your family and loved ones. Another life taken too soon. RIP."Martin Barber/BBC
Floral tributes were laid at the scene of the attack

Det Insp Dave McCormack of Norfolk Police said Suleimane had arrived in St Peter's Road "prepared to commit the most serious act of violence".

The nephew and uncle "moved across the country intent on evading capture in full knowledge of the crime they had committed" he added.

"Felizardo was a young man with a bright future loved by his family and community," said the detective.

"His family have shown great resilience while waiting for the sentencing result."

Suleimane also admitted a charge of possessing a knife blade or sharp pointed article in a public place.

His uncle was jailed for two years and seven months after he pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.

Martin Barber/BBC Two police officers facing away from the camera looking at a cordon. There is a red road closed sign next to him at a road junction which is also surrounded by police tape. There is a row of shops also within the cordon as well as several cars parked on the pavement. Martin Barber/BBC
"Felizardo was just a child and should not have been taken from us so young," said his family in a tribute

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