LONDON, England – A pair of assailants who ambushed a man in a violent stabbing on a Kingston street have received prison sentences for their heinous crime. Farhad Khalili was attacked by Sean Deery and Sebastian Niven as he walked along Surbiton Crescent, Kingston, on December 15, 2021. The assailants, including a 15-year-old Niven at the time, launched a ferocious attack, stabbing Farhad multiple times. Despite efforts from emergency services, Farhad tragically succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The jury heard that both Deery and Niven were captured on CCTV footage attacking Farhad. Deery was initially detained, albeit wrongly, in connection to a separate robbery in nearby Portsmouth Road, Kingston, just before the attack on Farhad. Meanwhile, Niven fled the scene on foot but was apprehended the following day at his home, where incriminating evidence linking him to the attack was found.

Both Deery and Niven remained silent during police interviews while in custody but were ultimately charged with murder due to the overwhelming evidence against them. Subsequently, Deery, 28, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years imprisonment, while Niven, now 18, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 14 years imprisonment.

The tragic consequences of the violent attack were painfully felt by Farhad’s mother, who received a call from her son’s phone only to discover it was the police informing her of his death. She bravely walked to the crime scene to confront the harsh reality of the situation.

According to Detective Inspector Jim Barry from the Specialist Crime Command, a motive for the attack was never established, and the ferocity with which the assailants carried out the violence remains puzzling. However, the swift response of the authorities, as well as crucial support from the local community, led to the prompt identification and apprehension of both suspects.

The sentencing of the two assailants was delivered at the Old Bailey in December, marking the conclusion of a harrowing legal process for Farhad’s family and friends. The hope is that the sentences will provide some measure of comfort to those left behind to grapple with the devastating outcome of this senseless murder.