A man has been jailed for life over the fatal stabbing of a drug addict in Harold Hill.
28-year-old Liam Harman was killed after stealing drugs from suppliers.
Serving prisoner Cedric Kiyago, 22, was found guilty of his murder following a trial at the Old Bailey.
He’ll serve a minimum of 29 years.
Liam’s family said in a statement: “As a family, we are heartbroken that Liam was taken from us, leaving his two young boys without their daddy. The impact this has had upon us is difficult to describe. Nothing will ever bring Liam back and this has left a permanent hole in the lives of all of us who loved him.
“We would like to thank the police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their dedication and hard work in bringing the person responsible to justice.”
Kiyago had text Liam, on Tuesday, 11 July 2017, saying “Your (sic) a dead man”
That same day, he went to the block of flats in Straight Road were Liam lived and launched a violent attack on him.
Detective Sergeant DS Brett Hagen, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “We believe the motive for the attack was a feud over stolen drugs. What we can be certain of is that the victim was subjected to a vicious and sustained knife assault that caused terrible injuries and had a devastating impact on his family and friends.
“The scene that faced officers and witnesses that night was truly dreadful and I am glad that Cedric Kiyago has been brought to justice.
“Kiyago is a habitual offender who was on prison licence for offences of drug-dealing. He will now spend a very long time in prison and I am sure the streets of London will be a safer place because of it.”
