Harry Uzoka murder: Model guilty of stabbing fashion rival to death
The 25-year-old had just landed a film role before he was stabbed in the heart outside his home in Shepherd's Bush in January.
Monday 13 August 2018 18:10, UK
A model has been found guilty of murder after stabbing his fashion rival to death.
George Koh, 24, stabbed Harry Uzoka in the heart after meeting him to settle a dispute about a woman, accompanied by two friends.
Koh, from Camden, north London, claimed he had sex with Mr Uzoka's girlfriend, fellow model Ruby Campbell, and the two male models met for a confrontation.
Koh was carrying two knives as he and two friends met Mr Uzoka and one of his friends, Adrian Harper, in west London's Shepherds Bush on 11 January.
A fight broke out and Koh and his friend Merse Dikanda chased Mr Uzoka while Mr Harper was pursued by Jonathan Okigbo.
Dikanda, also 24, of no fixed abode, was also found guilty of murder.
Okigbo, 24, also from Camden, was cleared of the same offence but convicted of manslaughter.
Mr Uzoka, 25, had just landed a film role before he was murdered by his less successful rival, Koh's trial at the Old Bailey heard.
They were described as knowing each other but the relationship deteriorated when Mr Uzoka became annoyed by Koh, who was said to be copying him.
Relations worsened after Koh bragged to Paris-based model Annecetta Lafon that he slept with Ms Campbell.
His model friend Chuck Achike told jurors: "He said George said 'He f my girl', which I thought was petty and young. He knew it wasn't true and I knew it wasn't true."
Before the murder, Mr Uzoka had been planning a trip to the Netherlands for his girlfriend's birthday and was said to be in a good mood, despite hearing about the claims from Ms Lafon.
But on the day of his death, he received a message from Koh asking for a "fight" and telling him to "bring ur friends".
Mr Harper said when they got there they found their adversaries were armed with knives, while he and Mr Uzoka had brought metal bars from weight training equipment.
Mr Harper said: "I took my pole out. I saw George had his hand to his side, a knife in each hand."
"I went left, Harry went right. I stopped and saw that Harry was cornered by the other two. It looked like they were talking.
"They were like right up in front of him, I think to make sure he could not go anywhere. But my attention was on the man chasing me."
When he was able to find his friend again, Mr Uzoka said "I've been stabbed" and collapsed in the road.
Mr Uzoka was found injured in Old Oak Road at 4pm and was pronounced dead at the scene an hour later.
Koh told the court he brought weapons as he was "worried Harry's friends would beat me up" after he unsuccessfully tried to call to apologise.
He claimed he lashed out in self defence and hit Mr Uzoka's shoulder but could not remember stabbing him in the chest.
Dikanda denied carrying a machete, claiming Koh never told him he had two knives, but he was convicted of murder and possession of a bladed weapon.
Okigbo, also from Camden, said he was only expecting "a push or a shove, nothing more."
All three have been remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 21 September.
In a statement, Mr Uzoka's family said: "Harry's death has been a great shock to everyone that knew him and even those that did not.
"He left a positive and irreplaceable mark on so many. We still find it difficult to believe he is actually gone.It was yet again another senseless killing."
"Harry was a hard-working, committed and ambitious young man. He was a role model for all, especially young black boys, a high percentage of whom are raised in poverty and need positive influences to encourage them to stay on the right track in life."