He can rest in peace now, say family as 'Snapchat feud' killer of Osman Sharif faces life in jail

Osman Sharif was attacked with a meat cleaver by another 16-year-old after a row which took place on Snapchat
Metropolitan Police
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The cousin of a murdered 16-year-old boy who was stabbed through the heart after a feud on Snapchat said he can “now rest in peace” as the killer faces life behind bars.

Osman Sharif was attacked with a meat cleaver by another 16-year-old when a row on the social media app spiralled into violence.

The killer, who cannot be identified, had been posted a series of laughing emojis when Osman claimed on Snapchat that he was “the toughest”, sparking a confrontation on Tottenham Green.

He denied murder during an Old Bailey trial, claiming the stabbing on June 6 had been accidental but now faces a life sentence after a jury convicted him yesterday.

Osman’s cousin Hawa Ahmed, 36, said the verdict represented “justice for Osman”, and called for young people to be taught about the dangers of carrying knives

“It’s young kids losing their lives every week”, she said.

“They need to be educated at school, to be told what it means for someone young like them to lose their lives.”

Speaking after the verdict, Ms Ahmed said: “It was justice for Osman today. At least there’s something done for him. He can rest in peace now at least.”

She added Osman, who lived in Tottenham with his mother Aisha and two brothers, had “loved to make people laugh”.

“He was a lovely boy, he was so quiet. He was very generous.”

The killer’s barrister Sally O’Neill QC told jurors in her closing speech: “It was over complete nonsense on Snapchat.

“He and Osman had known each other for a couple of years, they were good friends.”

Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, the Recorder of London, said it was a “desperately sad” case which had devastated the victim’s family.

“This demonstrates yet again the terrible problem we have with young people and knife crime”, he said.

The teenage killer, who denied the charges against him, has been remanded in custody until January 26 when he will be sentenced for possession of a knife and murder.

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