Lyle Tulloch murder: two teenagers found guilty of Harper Road stabbing

Damien Solobowale, 18, from Gypsy Hill and Tobi Peters, 17, of Deptford were found guilty at the Old Bailey following a four-week trial. They will be sentenced on Wednesday 10 December.

"This is another tragic example of what can happen when knives are used to settle arguments," says Detective Inspector David Willis.

"Lyle's family and friends have been devastated by his senseless murder and I hope these successful convictions can bring some peace to them. Unfortunately as long as young people do not heed the lessons of cases such as this there will be more families like Lyle's.

"Crucial to securing these convictions has been the extensive support we received from the Southwark community in general. In particular this came from the young people who had the courage and strength to not only give statements at the time, but then come to court and help Lyle's family get justice.

"This case also demonstrates that as well as prosecuting anyone found in possession of a knife, we will in cases of murder seek to prosecute all those involved under joint enterprise. This places the responsibility on groups of friends to use peer pressure on those that use or carry knives."

Lyle, who was not a member of any gang, was stabbed thirteen times at approximately 1.40am on 3 May 2008 after an argument at a party he was at with friends in Newall House at the corner of Harper Road and Bath Terrace on Southwark's Rockingham Estate.

During the evening one of Lyle's friends asked to use a mobile phone that belonged to Solobowale. After using the phone Solobowale became angry when he could not find it and an argument with Lyle's friend started.

The phone has never been recovered.

Lyle became involved and the group moved out of the flat and onto the landing where the argument continued. Solobowale produced a knife he had concealed up his sleeve and approached Lyle pointing it at him and trying to pat him down with his free hand.

Lyle backed off and then tried to run away, but as he reached the stairwell he was stabbed in the chest and thigh.

An ambulance crew and police officers attended and first aid was given, but Lyle was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

Witnesses told officers that they had seen both Solobowale and Peters with a knife during the course of the argument and that both ran away from the scene after the murder.

It is believed that the knife was taken from the kitchen as the argument developed.

Solobowale was arrested two days later at the home of Peters, and Peters was arrested on the following day.

Officers subsequently recovered a number of forensically significant items. These included trainers from Solobowale with Lyle's blood on them and a green hooded top with traces of Lyle's blood similar to that which witnesses say Peters was wearing that night.