Brothers jailed for stabbing Peckham man to death in robbery gone wrong
Life sentences handed down at Croydon Crown Court
Two brothers from SE15 faced justice at Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday, 15 May. Nah’shun Thomas, 20, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years and three months. His younger brother, Nyran Thomas, 17, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 19 years and ten months.
Both defendants were convicted following their trial in January and have been in custody since.
Cold-blooded knife robbery turns deadly
The tragic incident unfolded on 30 December 2022 at Peckham Rye Park. Kalabe Legesse, 29, was sitting on a bench when the brothers, riding bikes, confronted him. They threatened Kalabe in an attempt to snatch his mobile phone. During the robbery, Nah’shun stabbed him once in the chest.
Despite desperate efforts by emergency services, Kalabe died at the scene from a haemorrhage caused by the fatal stab wound.
Evidence builds case against brothers
Detectives pieced together hours of CCTV footage and retraced the Thomases’ movements to their homes. A knife wrapped in a black Puffa coat was found at Nyran’s grandmother’s property, with forensic tests confirming traces of Kalabe’s blood on its sheath.
The brothers were also linked to two other mobile phone robberies committed shortly before the murder, where victims reported threats involving a knife and the chilling phrases “Where are you from?” and “What have you got on you?”.
Investigators and family respond
Detective Inspector Adam Guttridge said: “The defendants were riding around the area armed with a knife, ready to commit violent crimes. For cruelly and needlessly ending Kalabe Legesse’s life, they will spend years behind bars reflecting on their actions and the lives they have destroyed.”
A spokesperson for Kalabe’s family said: “Nothing can bring back our son Kalabe. He was doing nothing wrong that night and we will never understand why he was murdered over a mobile phone. The defendants have shown no remorse. Christmas and New Year will never be the same for us. Kalabe was loved by everyone he met and had a bright future ahead. We thank the police for their hard work to bring these men to justice.”
Sentences at a glance
- Nah’shun Thomas: Life imprisonment, minimum 25 years 3 months; plus two concurrent 30-month terms for robbery.
- Nyran Thomas: Life imprisonment, minimum 19 years 10 months; plus two concurrent 20-month terms for robbery.
