Moment killers embrace outside party before stabbing stranger to death

A jealous boyfriend and his armed accomplice who stormed a flat and fatally stabbed a man they had never met before, have been convicted of murder. Kalid Abdi, 26, and Mohammad Butt, 22, attacked 32-year-old Nathan Mitra inside the flat in Hounslow in the early hours of Thursday, 29 July last year. Following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court which concluded today (Monday, 21 June 2021), Abdi and Butt were both found guilty of murder. Butt was also found guilty of possessing a bladed article. Abdi and Butt had spent the evening in a Twickenham pub. Abdi had been in constant contact with his girlfriend who was out socialising and having drinks with friends. He had demanded to know where she was and with whom – even asking her to hold up her phone in a video call so that he could see who was there, and urging her to leave having spotted other men at the gathering. Only 10 days before, Abdi had expressed his distrust of his partner and told her: “Know u been linking other guys anyway so watch now.” He added: “I only cared for you but you went behind my back…so you will have to suffer the consequences b***h.” Abdi and Butt were invited to the flat and arrived at around 2.30am. They instantly acted as aggressors and set about trying to attack any male present. One managed to barricade himself into a room while the pair nearly attacked a woman who they believed was a male, until they realised she just had a boyish appearance. Mr Mitra was stabbed by Butt once in the heart. The wound penetrated 18cm deep but he managed to get out of the flat, collapsing just outside the block. When police and paramedics arrived shortly after, they were unable to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Both Butt and Abdi fled the UK and went to Oslo in Norway mere days after the murder. Abdi handed himself into police upon return nearly three weeks later, while Butt was extradited back to the UK ahead of the trial. Emma Currie, from the CPS, said: “This was a shocking and sudden outbreak of chaos and violence at what had originally been a relaxing and enjoyable gathering. “Kalid Abdi was furious his girlfriend had been out and about in the company of other men. It was his jealousy combined with Mohammad Butt’s willingness to use a knife on a complete stranger that led to a loss of an innocent life. Together their actions resulted in devastating consequences. “The prosecution case included mobile phone evidence and CCTV footage which showed Abdi and Butt’s chilling demeanour before and after the murder. “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Nathan Mitra at this time.” Sentencing will take place at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday, 23 June.