Teenagers convicted of murdering Luton man with a machete

Two teenagers have been found guilty of killing a man after luring him to a location in Luton and attacking him with a knife.

A boy aged 17, who was 16 at the time of the incident, was found guilty of the murder of 26-year-old Adam Khan, following a violent altercation on Humberstone Road, Luton in August.

A girl aged 17, who was also 16 at the time, was found guilty of manslaughter for her part in his death.

Due to legal restrictions relating to children under the age of 18, the pair cannot be named.

Emergency services were called to the incident on Humberstone Road in the town shortly after 6pm on 31 August last year after Mr Khan was stabbed with a machete the boy had brought with him to the scene. Mr Khan was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries.

During the three-week trial at Harrow Crown Court, the jury heard how Mr Khan had been messaging the girl in the weeks leading up to the incident.

Under oath, the boy admitted that he and the girl had planned to “trick” Mr Khan by taking cannabis, that he claimed Mr Khan had offered to her in exchange for sex. However, there was no evidence to corroborate these claims.

Prior to the incident, the girl exchanged messages and phone calls with Mr Khan and played a key role in persuading him to drive to meet her at St Luke’s Close, while the boy waited nearby.

As Mr Khan drove away from St Luke’s Close the boy ran after him, catching up with him after he parked on the pavement on Humberstone Road, armed himself with a tyre iron, and an altercation took place, ultimately resulting in Mr Khan being stabbed.

Following the incident, witness testimony and CCTV footage showed that both defendants walked away as their victim sought medical assistance from witnesses nearby.

Detective Inspector Adam Bridges of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said, “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Mr Khan’s family and friends.

“This was a violent and vicious incident that resulted in the wholly unnecessary death of a young man, with consequences that will be felt by those who loved him for the rest of their lives. The teenager who stabbed Adam arrived at the scene armed with a knife, demonstrating a clear willingness to use extreme violence if the situation escalated. That deliberate decision ultimately led to Adam Khan losing his life.

There is never any justification for carrying a knife. This tragic incident, which took place in August last year, stands as a stark reminder of the devastating and irreversible consequences such decisions can have for everyone involved.”

Both teenagers will be sentenced at a later date.

Find out how we are working alongside our partner agencies to tackle knife crime and how you can help here