Men found guilty in relation to the death of Bereket Selomun in Stevenage

Three men have been found guilty in relation to the death of another man in Stevenage last year.

Bereket Selomun, aged 20, was sadly found dead shortly before 7.30am on Thursday 7 July 2022 in woodland off Brittain Way, adjourning Fairlands Valley Park.

He had suffered multiple stab wounds.

An investigation was launched by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Major Crime Unit to establish the circumstances around what had happened and three men, who were all known to the victim, were subsequently arrested.  

Jelani Omar, aged 24, of Plash Drive, Stevenage, Malake Fiseha, aged 24, of Manor View, Stevenage and Natnael Hadgu, aged 19, of Ripon Road, Stevenage were subsequently charged with murder. They all denied the charge.

Following a four-week trial at St Albans Crown Court, Omar was found guilty of murder today (Thursday 30 March).

Fiseha and Hadgu, meanwhile, were found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

A fourth man, Robel Msgane, aged 23, of no fixed abode, was charged with assisting an offender and found guilty. 

The four men will be sentenced at a later date. 

Bereket's brother Michale Solomun has paid tribute to his sibling. He said: "No words could ever explain or put into context how we have felt since Bereket was taken from us in such horrific circumstances.

"He fled Eritrea in the hopes of living a safer and better life in the UK, only to have his life brutally cut short.

"Bereket was a gregarious, courteous, altruistic, generous, hard-working, and peace-loving young man. His ambition was to study Business Management and go on to run his own business one day. This choice has been taken from him.

"Bereket's death has left a void in our family that cannot be repaired."

Detective Inspector Iain MacPherson, from the BCH Major Crime Unit, added: "Our thoughts remain with Bereket's family at this extremely difficult time. 

"Bereket was a young man who had his life in front of him. He had settled in Hertfordshire having come to this country from Eritrea. He was murdered following a dispute with people he knew and who had also settled in this country having come from Eritrea.

"Of course, nothing can bring Bereket back, however we hope the guilty verdicts will be welcomed by Bereket's family and give them some justice.

"This case sadly highlights the real dangers of carrying a knife which can end lives and destroy others."