Asthma Inhaler DNA Evidence Convicts Killer Who Fled to Pakistan
A man has been convicted of killing a father after detectives used DNA from his asthma inhaler to bring him to justice, following a complex international manhunt. Ali Abdul Basit, 19, fled the UK after the death of Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto in south London in 2023, travelling via Dubai, Venice, and Egypt before settling in Pakistan.
International Escape and Return
Police spent more than two years searching for Basit after he immediately left the country following the fatal assault. Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe, who led the investigation, stated that Basit travelled to Dubai via Venice then Egypt, eventually arriving in Pakistan where he remained for months. Basit returned to Britain after three others were convicted in connection with Mr Peixoto's killing, possibly under the false belief that he had evaded capture.
Forensic Breakthrough with Inhaler DNA
Upon his arrest, officers obtained Basit's DNA from an asthma inhaler at his house, which matched DNA found on a cigarette butt at the crime scene. This critical forensic link was part of an extensive evidence compilation, including phone data that connected him to the other convicted men at the time of the assault. Basit, of Leicester Avenue, Mitcham, was convicted of manslaughter and robbery after a three-week trial and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on May 22.
Details of the Fatal Incident
Police were called to Mayfield Crescent in Thornton Heath at 10:30 pm on December 19, 2023, following reports of a serious assault. Mr Peixoto was found on the floor with multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead. An investigation revealed that a group of men had been seen arriving at the location and waiting in a white BMW for about 30 minutes. Mr Peixoto and a friend arrived in a Vauxhall Grandland, after which the victim got out of the car and was confronted by a man holding a large knife.
He was stabbed multiple times, including once in the chest as he attempted to return to the vehicle. The suspects threatened his friend with a knife, forced her out of the car, stole the vehicle, and abandoned it nearby. Officers later located cigarette butts at the scene, near where the BMW had been parked. Forensic analysis matched DNA from the cigarettes to three men who were subsequently convicted for their roles in Mr Peixoto's death.
Other Convictions in the Case
Basit had been spotted at the scene of the robbery. After fleeing the country, he returned to the UK last May when he was arrested and charged with murder, with police later matching DNA from the cigarette butts and his inhaler. In related convictions, Zak Baako, 30, of no fixed abode, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 28 years. John Budal, 20, of Ena Road, Thornton Heath, was convicted of manslaughter and robbery, while Omari Peat, 23, of Southampton Gardens, Mitcham, was found guilty of robbery.
Detective Inspector Thorpe emphasized that this case highlights the Metropolitan Police's persistent pursuit of justice to ensure that anyone who commits such violent acts is held accountable. The use of innovative forensic techniques, such as DNA analysis from personal items like an asthma inhaler, played a pivotal role in securing the conviction despite Basit's attempts to evade capture through international travel.
