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Abdi Ali murder: Body-in-loft killer Gary Hopkins found guilty | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man who hacked a teenager to death and hid his body in an attic for eight months has been convicted of murder. | A man who hacked a teenager to death and hid his body in an attic for eight months has been convicted of murder. |
Gary Hopkins killed 17-year-old Abdi Ali at the north London home he shared with Stacy Docherty and their three children in December 2017. | Gary Hopkins killed 17-year-old Abdi Ali at the north London home he shared with Stacy Docherty and their three children in December 2017. |
Hopkins, 36, of Hartmoor Mews, Enfield, then bundled the body in a duvet and hid it away, the Old Bailey previously heard. | |
His partner Ms Docherty, 28, was cleared of murder and manslaughter. | His partner Ms Docherty, 28, was cleared of murder and manslaughter. |
The trial was told Abdi, a drug dealer linked to the Get Money Gang, would sometimes use Hopkins' flat to do business. | |
Jurors heard Hopkins "lost it", hitting Abdi over the head with a claw hammer and repeatedly stabbing him with a knife. | |
'Loose cannon' | |
Window cleaner Hopkins then bundled the 5ft 2in (157cm) body inside a duvet cover, stashing it and the murder weapons in the loft at his home. | |
Despite Abdi, known as Skeng, being reported missing by his family, his body lay undiscovered for eight months. | |
His remains were found after Hopkins threatened to kill another drug dealer, boasting: "I've done it before. He's in the loft." | |
He then bragged to friends of the murder and encouraged them to explore his attic, even providing a ladder. | |
Mr Ali's body was "infested with insects" by the time police found him, the court heard. | |
In her evidence, Ms Docherty said she did not report the crime out of fear. | |
Explaining why she helped Hopkins push the body into the loft, Ms Docherty said: "He could have hurt me. He had just killed someone. He's a loose cannon." | |
After the verdicts were delivered, Abdi's family described him as a "very respectful, helpful son" who was particularly close to his late grandmother. | |
"I am aware that Abdi had trouble with police before but as a family we were hoping that he would change since he was still very young," his sister Kowsar said. | |
"He had no reason to hide his body for that long in a loft and not even allow us to bury him respectfully, which is a very important part of our faith." | |
The jury was unable to reach a verdict against Ms Docherty on charges of perverting the course of justice and of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body. | |
Hopkins admitted to the same charges at the start of the trial. | |
He will be sentenced on 26 April. | He will be sentenced on 26 April. |
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