Murdered Gypsy Hill man was "calm person", court hears

Prosecutors in the case of a man who was knifed in the heart have been summing up the evidence before the jury retires to consider its verdict.

Barrister Neil Moore said murdered father-of-two, Solomon Sarfo, 34, was a "calm person" who lived with his girlfriend in Gypsy Hill.

He said Mr Sarfo left his home at about 10.50pm on Sunday, February 27 with £8,500 worth of crack cocaine in his pocket and told his girlfriend he would be back soon.

But, Mr Moore said, he was stabbed to death with a 10cm blade in Tilson Gardens, Brixton Hill, at 11.35pm by defendant Jamie Rickerby, who wanted to rob him.

Mr Moore told the jury at The Old Bailey that Rickerby, a hotel worker from Balham, had changed his statement several times in interviews with the police, and had refused to testify at court.

He said Rickerby admitted fighting with Mr Sarfo that night and traces of his DNA were later found on the dead man’s silver neck chain.

Rickerby, 25, of Balham High Road, Balham, denies murder. The trial continues.