Three men have been convicted for the murder of 27-year-old Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto, who was fatally stabbed in Croydon in December 2023 while attempting to sell cocaine. Zak Baako, 29, of no fixed address, was found guilty of murder, while his co-defendants, John Budal, 20, and Omari Peat, 23, were convicted of manslaughter and robbery.
The incident occurred at Mayfield Crescent, Thornton Heath, on December 19, 2023. Officers discovered Michael Peixoto lying on the ground with multiple stab wounds. He had been ambushed and stabbed five times, including a fatal wound to the heart, as he attempted to return to his car. Despite the efforts of emergency responders, Peixoto was pronounced dead at the scene.
Baako was sentenced at the Old Bailey on December 20, 2023. Budal was found guilty of manslaughter and robbery but acquitted of murder, while Peat was found guilty of robbery but not murder or manslaughter. All three will appear for sentencing at the Old Bailey on January 13, 2025.
The trio had been captured on CCTV footage arriving in a white BMW, where they spent approximately 30 minutes before the fatal assault. They were seen smoking cigarettes, and the discarded cigarette butts were pivotal in linking them to the crime.
Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe commented, “Zak Baako arrived that day armed with a knife and was prepared to use it against Michael Afonso Peixoto. It’s been just over a year since Michael’s death, leaving his family, including his young son, devastated. While this Christmas will be no easier than the last for his family, I hope this result allows them to start moving forward.”
The case highlights the tragic loss of a young life due to a violent drug-related confrontation.