Man found guilty of murder after Chatham stabbing

Musa Salih, aged 19, has been convicted of murder after fatally stabbing 19-year-old Harley Purdue eight times in Chatham. The jury at Maidstone Crown Court delivered the verdict on October 15. Salih, from Greenford in west London, had lured Mr Purdue to a property on Thorold Road. The attack occurred around 3am on December 2 last year in the building's communal basement.

The motive for the attack

According to evidence presented, Salih's intention was to trap Mr Purdue in a toilet within the basement and steal money from his bedroom. When Mr Purdue resisted this plan, Salih proceeded to stab him multiple times. Mr Purdue's girlfriend reportedly intervened during the assault, and Salih then attempted to harm her before fleeing the scene and leaving the Medway area.

Salih was apprehended by police later on the same day as the incident in Lewisham. A subsequent review of his mobile phone revealed that he had used an artificial intelligence application to seek legal advice and obtain information regarding the ongoing incident.

Police investigation and sentencing

Detective Sergeant Alastair Worton of Kent Police stated that Salih's scheme to steal money, while armed, led directly to the death of a young man. He commended the swift police response in London that led to Salih's arrest and the subsequent thorough investigation, which ensured the jury reached its conviction. DS Worton added that the family of Mr Purdue had shown commendable strength and dignity throughout the process, and he hoped the verdict would bring them a sense of justice.

Musa Salih is scheduled to be sentenced on November 4 at Maidstone Crown Court.