Emmanuel Odunlami attended an exclusive event in London to celebrate his 32nd birthday, donning an imitation Patek Philippe Nautilus watch. The gathering was adorned with luxury, as Odunlami sported a Dior jacket and a Goyard bag, while other attendees showcased Rolex timepieces.
However, tragedy struck when a security guard at the high-end event, Kavindu Hettiarachchi, noticed Odunlami’s watch and alerted a group of robbers. Louis Vandrose, Quincy Ffrench, and Jordell Menzies swiftly acted on the tip-off. Menzies aggressively approached Odunlami, fatally stabbing him in the heart with a lock knife as the victim attempted to retreat.
Amid the chaos, Ffrench swiftly seized the watch, confirming “got it” before the group fled the scene in a Mercedes, leaving Odunlami’s prized possession unrecovered.
In sentencing, Judge Field described the crime as a meticulously planned and sophisticated operation, in which the culprits played significant roles. Vandrose and Ffrench were convicted of manslaughter and robbery, while Menzies received a life sentence with a minimum of 31 years for Odunlami’s murder.
Hettiarachchi was also found guilty of manslaughter and robbery and received a 13-year sentence, while Vandrose and Ffrench were handed 15-year terms.
The loss of Emmanuel Odunlami deeply affected his loved ones. His fiancée, Rajbir Kaur, spoke of her devastation, emphasizing the profound impact on their children and the dreams they would never share. Odunlami’s mother, Christiana, expressed her ongoing anguish, describing the void left in her life since her son’s untimely death.