Paddington: Stabbed teenager died 'while shocked park-goers desperately tried to save his life'

A teenager died after a daylight attack delivered with a violence that "left little chance of survival".

Khaled Saleh, 17, was stabbed to death in St Mary's Churchyard in Paddington on June 19 2023. On Wednesday (February 22) a 17-year-old boy – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was convicted of his manslaughter following a trial at the Old Bailey.

Detective Inspector Ollie Stride, who led the investigation for one of the Met’s homicide teams, said: “The violence used in this attack left Khaled with little chance of survival.

“The defendant was in the park in possession of a knife when he was approached by a group including Khaled. He had many options but chose to attack Khaled, who was unarmed, stabbing him once and continuing to attack him after he had stumbled to the floor and could not defend himself. He then fled with his two associates leaving Khaled dying on the floor while shocked park-goers desperately tried to save his life.

“This was a truly shocking scene and one which starkly outlines the devastating consequences of carrying a knife.”

The assailant was arrested on the same day after CCTV footage of the incident was found. A local Met Police officer recognised the attacker.

When he was arrested, he had removed the SIM card from his mobile phone and wiped it in an attempt to evade detection. But police found the distinctive jacket worn in the attack.

The weapon used has not been recovered but another large knife was found at a separate address used by the defendant.

The boy, who was 16 at the time of the attack, claimed he acted in self defence but police say CCTV showed that while Khaled had approached him, he was not physically threatened before he produced the knife and carried out his attack.

The 17-year-old will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on a date to be confirmed.