In a landmark development, three individuals have been convicted for the brutal murder of Iron Miah in Tower Hamlets, as detectives navigated a complex web of burner phones and false intelligence to bring justice to the victim’s family. The Old Bailey delivered the verdict on Tuesday, 9 January, four years after the tragic incident.
Iron Miah, 40, succumbed to a catastrophic brain injury sustained during an attack on his doorstep in Nelson Street, E1, on 19 November 2019. The murder investigation, marked by its complexity and resilience, ultimately led to the conviction of Mohamed Moshaer Ali, Antonio Afflick-McLeod, and Aaron Campbell.
Detectives painstakingly utilised cell site data, uncovering crucial evidence from burner phones used by the perpetrators for communication. A unique aspect of the investigation involved a source who infiltrated the inquiry, providing false intelligence and later revealing himself as one of the culprits responsible for Iron’s murder.
Detective Chief Inspector David Whellams praised the team’s tireless efforts, emphasising the deliberate and callous nature of the violence in a residential area. He stated, “Our streets are safer without these people at large,” highlighting the significance of the convictions in ensuring public safety.
The convicts, Mohamed Moshaer Ali, Antonio Afflick-McLeod, and Aaron Campbell, will face sentencing on Tuesday, 16 January. The courtroom drama unfolded over three trials, with the murder squad detectives successfully tracking communications despite the intentional use of disposable burner phones.
The prosecution revealed that Ali, one of the defendants, not only provided false intelligence but also attempted to manipulate a prison officer to lie to the police, leading to the collapse of the second trial in 2022.
The tragic events leading to Iron’s murder involved a series of ominous messages received by him in the days preceding the incident. After a call from Mohammed Ali, Iron sent a message stating “Viewing done” before being fatally shot by an assailant who approached him from behind.
Despite challenges such as the unrecovered murder weapon and the elusive Volkswagen Polo used by the gunmen, the investigation uncovered crucial evidence, including a SIM card purchased a day before the murder, linking the defendants to the crime.
Additionally, Wiktoria Bujko, a 30-year-old prison guard at HMP Belmarsh, appeared in court on 19 May 2023. She pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, having provided false information to the police during the trials of the three convicted defendants.
