Drug dealer guilty of murdering 63-year-old man
Family HandoutA drug dealer who stabbed and killed a 63-year-old man has been found guilty of murder.
Police said Abul Kasim, 25, had been staying at Martin Sullivan's home in Highbury Road, Luton, and using the house as a base for "drug-dealing activity".
They said Kasim, of Perrysfield Road, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, stabbed Mr Sullivan on 8 January after a disagreement.
Kasim admitted manslaughter but denied murder.
A jury unanimously found Kasim guilty of murder on Friday after a trial, overseen by Mrs Justice Dias, at Luton Crown Court.
The judge said Kasim would be sentenced on a date to be fixed.
"Kasim, a known drug-dealer, had been using the house Martin lived in as a base for his drug-dealing activity," said Bedfordshire Police in a statement after the hearing.
"However, when he demanded to stay the night on 8 January, Martin refused and told him to leave. Kasim then became violent and attacked Martin with a knife before fleeing."
The force said it arrested Kasim after his fingerprints were found on a doorframe and on a bottle of juice.
'Senseless'
Det Insp Caeva Taylor, a member of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit, described Kasim's attack as "senseless".
"Martin was a much loved and recognisable figure in the community and could often be seen walking his dogs in the Bury Park area," she said.
"Kasim's utterly senseless and violent actions led to Martin losing his life, which has caused a huge amount of pain and suffering to Martin's family and friends."
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