Man Flees to Pakistan After Croydon Stabbing Convicted 2026

Key Points

• Ali Abdul Basit, 19, has been convicted of manslaughter and robbery in connection with the fatal stabbing of Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto in Thornton Heath, Croydon, on December 19, 2023.
• Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto, 27, was ambushed by a group of men attempting to rob him of drugs; he suffered five stab wounds, including one through the heart, and collapsed on a nearby driveway.
• Basit fled the country immediately after the attack, travelling via Venice, Dubai, and Egypt before reaching Pakistan, where he remained for months; he returned to the UK in May 2025.
• Metropolitan Police detectives linked Basit to the scene through DNA evidence from a cigarette butt matching his asthma inhaler, as well as phone data.
• Three accomplices were previously convicted in 2024: Zak Baako, 29, of Croydon, for murder (life sentence with minimum 28 years plus nine years concurrent for robbery); John Budal, 20, of Streatham, for manslaughter (nine years) and robbery (five years concurrent); Omari Peat (also reported as Omariat, 23), of Mitcham, for robbery (four years).
• The trial at the Old Bailey lasted three weeks, concluding with Basit’s conviction on March 27, 2026; sentencing is scheduled for May 22, 2026.
• The group arrived in a white BMW and targeted Peixoto after he arrived in a grey Vauxhall Grandland X Elite (registration DL19LVS) with a friend; they also robbed the friend of her vehicle and mobile phone at knifepoint.
• Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe, who led the investigation, praised the tireless two-year pursuit of Basit.

Thornton Heath, Croydon (South London News) March 28, 2026 – A fourth man, Ali Abdul Basit, has been convicted of manslaughter over the death of drug dealer Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto, who was stabbed five times in an ambush robbery gone fatally wrong three years ago.

Who Was Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto?

Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto, aged 27 at the time of his death, was a father who travelled to Thornton Heath to sell drugs but was instead ambushed by a group of five men, as detailed during the trial at the Old Bailey. He sustained five stab wounds, one piercing his heart, and collapsed on the driveway of a nearby residence in Mayfield Crescent around 10:30pm on December 19, 2023. A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as a stab wound, with formal identification completed shortly after.

As reported by the Metropolitan Police in their update, Peixoto arrived with a friend in a grey Vauxhall Grandland X Elite, registration DL19LVS, when suspects in a white BMW initiated the attack. The prosecution noted uncertainty over whether the group found Peixoto’s drugs, but they did rob his friend of her car and mobile phone at knifepoint.

What Happened During the Ambush?

The incident unfolded when Peixoto pulled up in Mayfield Crescent, Thornton Heath, and was immediately set upon by the group who had tried to rob him of his cocaine stash. As he attempted to climb out of the car and then get back in, he was stabbed multiple times, including in the chest, according to coverage in The Independent.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police described the attack as “barbaric,” with the suspects driving off in Peixoto’s vehicle, which was later located. Initial investigations confirmed the group numbered at least four, later identified as including Basit, Baako, Budal, and Peat.

Who Is Ali Abdul Basit and Why Did He Flee?

Ali Abdul Basit, then 19, was one of the men involved and fled the scene immediately after the stabbing. According to Ground News aggregation of reports, Basit travelled through Venice, Dubai, and Egypt before ending up in Pakistan, where he stayed for months to evade capture. He returned to the UK in May 2025 and was arrested upon arrival.

Basit was convicted following a three-week trial at the Old Bailey on March 27, 2026, of manslaughter and robbery. As reported by MyLondon, he was the fourth man convicted in the case.

How Did Police Link Basit to the Crime?

Detectives linked Basit using crucial forensic evidence, including DNA from a cigarette butt at the scene that matched an asthma inhaler seized from his home, as highlighted in Sky News UK coverage. Phone data further corroborated his involvement, according to the Metropolitan Police investigation led by Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe.

Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe, who led the investigation, said: 

“Detectives spent over two years pursuing Ali Abdul Basit who fled to Pakistan after the death of Michael. Following a tireless investigation by the Met, Basit appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, 27 March where he was convicted for his role in Michael’s death.”

What Were the Convictions of the Other Accomplices?

Three other men were convicted earlier in 2024, as reported by BBC News. Zak Baako, 29, from Croydon, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years, plus nine years concurrently for robbery.

John Budal, 20, from Streatham, received nine years for manslaughter and five years concurrently for robbery. Omari Peat, 23, from Mitcham (also referred to as Omariat in some reports), was acquitted of murder and manslaughter but sentenced to four years for robbery.

DNA evidence on cigarette remains at the scene played a key role in linking them, with the trial hearing that Peixoto was ambushed over his drugs.

When and Where Did the Investigation Unfold?

The stabbing occurred on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at around 22:30hrs in Mayfield Crescent, Thornton Heath, part of Croydon in south London. Police named Peixoto on December 22, 2023, and appealed for information on his vehicle.

An arrest was made shortly after, but the investigation continued, with Basit’s pursuit spanning over two years internationally. The Met Police confirmed the car was recovered, and family support was provided by specialist officers.

Why Did Basit Take So Long to Be Convicted?

Basit’s flight to Pakistan delayed justice, requiring international cooperation and forensic breakthroughs over two years. He was the last of the four convicted, with his trial concluding three years after the incident on March 27, 2026.

As per Evening Standard reporting, the Met tracked him down after his return, using evidence that held up in a three-week Old Bailey trial.

What Is the Current Status of Sentencing?

Basit is due to be sentenced on Friday, May 22, 2026, as noted by Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe in the Met Police statement. The earlier sentences for Baako, Budal, and Peat were handed down following their 2024 convictions.

How Has This Affected the Community?

Thornton Heath residents were shocked by the “barbaric” attack, as described by police in Inside Croydon coverage from December 2023. The case highlights ongoing issues with knife crime and drug-related violence in south London, with Peixoto leaving behind a wife and young son.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Etheridge, involved in related aspects, emphasised the impact on families in similar cases, though specific to this probe, Thorpe underscored the Met’s commitment to justice.

What Evidence Was Crucial in the Trial?

Forensic evidence proved pivotal: DNA from the cigarette butt matching Basit’s inhaler, phone records placing him at the scene, and witness accounts of the ambush. The prosecution outlined the robbery motive tied to drugs, with the group’s actions including vehicle theft.

No reports indicate the drugs were recovered, but the robbery of the friend was confirmed.

Who Led the Police Investigation?

Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe headed the two-year hunt for Basit, crediting the team’s persistence in bringing him to trial. Initial responses came from Metropolitan Police, with updates on arrests and vehicle recovery.

Family officers supported Peixoto’s loved ones throughout.