A teenager who fled to Nigeria after a fatal stabbing in southeast London has been sentenced to life imprisonment, bringing to a close a complex, transnational investigation that homicide detectives say relied on hundreds of hours of surveillance footage, digital analysis and forensic testing.
Jackson Uwagboe, 19, of Hamilton Street, Lewisham, was handed a life sentence at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday after a jury convicted him earlier this month of murdering 21-year-old Robert Robinson. The court ruled he must serve a minimum of 21 years before he can be considered for parole.
The killing occurred on June 6, 2024, in Carteret Way, Deptford. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service responded to emergency calls shortly after 10:35 p.m. alongside paramedics from the London Ambulance Service. Robinson, who had sustained 12 stab wounds, including defensive injuries, was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a detailed account published on its official news platform, the Metropolitan Police outlined how detectives reconstructed the events leading to the attack. Prosecutors told jurors that earlier that day, Uwagboe had robbed a 17-year-old boy of a bicycle and mobile phone on Deptford High Street. Robinson later joined a group that went to the home of Uwagboe’s associate in Windlass Place in an effort to recover the stolen property.
When no one answered the door, the group left. Tensions escalated after two vehicles linked to the associate’s family were allegedly damaged. A short time later, Uwagboe, along with Ryan Wedderburn, 18, and Kirk Harris, 19, left the Windlass Place address armed with machetes.
The trio encountered Robinson and others near Carteret Way. As Robinson attempted to flee, he was chased and overpowered. The court heard that he was repeatedly stabbed while unarmed and already wounded. Despite urgent medical treatment, he could not be saved.
Wedderburn and Harris were convicted of Robinson’s murder at the Old Bailey in May last year. Wedderburn received a life sentence with a minimum term of 23 years, while Harris was ordered to serve at least 22 years and nine months.
Detective Inspector Neil Tovey, who led the inquiry, described the assault as “brutal and sustained,” emphasizing that Robinson had been attacked while defenseless. He commended the victim’s family for their resilience through two separate trials, noting that Uwagboe’s decision to leave the country prolonged their wait for justice.
Following the stabbing, all three attackers fled the scene. Evidence presented at trial showed that Uwagboe traveled to Nigeria days later. Investigators established that Eromosele Omoluogbe, 24, purchased a £1,129.89 plane ticket to Lagos on June 7, 2024, and transported Uwagboe to Heathrow Airport. Omoluogbe has since been convicted of perverting the course of justice and is awaiting sentencing.
Uwagboe returned to the United Kingdom on Feb. 25, 2025, where he was arrested at Gatwick Airport on suspicion of murder.
The Metropolitan Police said the case involved extensive analysis of CCTV recordings from multiple locations, examination of phone records from more than a dozen individuals and scrutiny of financial transactions to map the suspects’ movements. Forensic specialists linked one recovered knife to Harris through DNA analysis. Another weapon retrieved months later from the River Thames was connected to Wedderburn using video evidence.
Nigerian outlets including Vanguard Nigeria and Punch Nigeria carried accounts of the sentencing, highlighting Uwagboe’s return from Nigeria and the life term imposed by the London court. Both publications cited the Metropolitan Police statement detailing the investigation and minimum sentence.
Detective Inspector Tovey reiterated that assisting offenders to evade capture carries serious consequences, referencing Omoluogbe’s conviction. He underscored the force’s commitment to pursuing suspects across borders.
The Deptford case unfolds against a broader backdrop of persistent concern over knife crime in London. Although police statistics indicate a gradual decline in homicide rates, youth-involved violence remains a focal point for policymakers and community leaders. The Metropolitan Police have intensified targeted patrols and intelligence-led operations in boroughs with elevated knife crime incidents, including Lewisham.
This case illustrates how digital footprints — from bank transfers to mobile phone metadata — increasingly form the backbone of modern homicide investigations. The successful prosecution relied not only on eyewitness accounts but also on data triangulation, CCTV mapping and forensic correlation. Such techniques reflect the growing role of technology in criminal justice, particularly in urban centers with expansive camera networks.
The international dimension adds further significance. While there was no formal extradition process in this instance, Uwagboe’s departure and later return spotlight the logistical challenges that arise when suspects cross jurisdictions. Cooperation between nations can be pivotal in cases involving flight risks, and the outcome here may reinforce deterrence messaging for would-be offenders considering escape.
Another implication lies in sentencing. British courts have consistently imposed substantial minimum terms in knife-related murders, signaling judicial recognition of the social harm caused by bladed weapons. The concurrent life sentences handed to all three attackers underscore a zero-tolerance approach to group violence.
For Robinson’s family, the verdict closes a chapter marked by repeated court proceedings and public scrutiny. For authorities, it serves as both a vindication of investigative diligence and a reminder of the enduring complexity of knife crime prevention.
As London continues to grapple with youth violence, cases such as this one are likely to inform ongoing debate over intervention strategies, community outreach and sentencing policy — an intersection where law enforcement, courts and social services converge.
The Metropolitan Police emphasized that the resolution of this case reflects sustained effort rather than isolated success. “This investigation demonstrates our absolute determination to pursue offenders wherever they go,” Tovey said, framing the outcome as part of a broader campaign to enhance public safety across the capital.
News.met.police.uk/Vanguard/Punchng
