A YOUTH has been convicted of the manslaughter of Osman Shidane in Ruislip.

The youth, from Ruislip, who is now aged 17 but was 16 at the time of the attack, was found guilty today following an 11-day trial at the Old Bailey. He was acquitted of murder.

The court heard how, in May, Osman, 20, also from Ruislip, had arranged to buy cannabis from the defendant.

Phone records later showed the defendant was regularly dealing drugs and the victim was one of his customers.

They had arranged to meet in an alleyway off Victoria Road. Both went armed with knives, and CCTV footage showed them entering the alleyway.

A knife was later found in the street and identified as probably belonging to the victim.

What happened in the alley may never be known, but at around 9pm a number of witnesses saw the victim fleeing pursued by the defendant.

The defendant caught up with Osman and was seen to put him in a headlock.

Witnesses described the defendant drawing back his arm and striking the victim around the neck or chest area.

Shocked bystanders went to Osman's aid. He was calling for help and trying to get up, but he had a large wound in his neck. He was taken to hospital but died there.

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Detectives found that, shortly after the attack, the defendant had called a cab to take him to Ruislip Lido.

One theory is that he used the lake to dispose of the knife, which has never been found.

He was arrested while cycling near a known address in The Fairway, Ruislip.

The defendant tried to cycle off, discarding cannabis from his pockets as he fled.

He was arrested after a struggle and taken to a police station.

A search of the address recovered clothing and trainers with the victim's blood still on them.

Det Insp Jamie Stevenson said: “It was a needless killing and the devastating effects will be felt by his family forever.

"Those who witnessed this crime will also have to come to terms with the aftermath, but I would like to personally thank all those members of the public who came to Osman's aid that night and tried to save him.

"The fact that his killer was aged only 16 at the time makes this crime seem even more awful.”

The defendant will be sentenced on December 7.