Key Points
- Elyas Moussa, 30, of no fixed address, found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, following a two-week trial.
- Victim Ricardo Clarke, 35, stabbed to death on Linacre Road, Willesden Green, North London, at around 4.15am on December 28, 2024; bled out en route to A&E.
- Altercation began with a fight between Clarke and Moussa, involving thrown glass bottles, before they separated temporarily.
- Moussa called police from a phone box to hand himself in on December 29, 2024, leading to his arrest and charge for murder and possession of a bladed article.
- Moussa had earlier pleaded guilty to possession of a pointed and bladed article in public on December 28, 2024.
- Sentencing scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the Old Bailey.
- Detective Inspector Jonny Newell commended officers for piecing together a CCTV timeline despite Moussa’s surrender.
- Incident linked to knife crime trends in Willesden Green area.
Inverted Pyramid News Structure
Elyas Moussa, 30, of no fixed address, stands convicted of murdering Ricardo Clarke, 35, after stabbing him fatally on Linacre Road in Willesden Green, North London, on December 28, 2024. Clarke succumbed to his wounds while travelling to A&E, as detailed in court proceedings at the Old Bailey. Moussa, who handed himself in via a phone box call the following day, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article earlier and faces sentencing on December 17, 2025.
What Led to the Fatal Stabbing in Willesden Green?
A violent confrontation erupted on Linacre Road around 4.15am on December 28, 2024, between Ricardo Clarke and Elyas Moussa. As reported in coverage from MyLondon, the incident began as a fight where glass bottles were hurled between the two men before they briefly parted ways. Officers later constructed a detailed CCTV timeline to reconstruct the sequence, highlighting the rapid escalation to the stabbing.
Detective Inspector Jonny Newell of the Metropolitan Police emphasised the investigative rigour, stating:
“Despite Moussa handing himself in, officers worked quickly to meticulously piece together what happened that night.”
This attribution underscores the role of forensic evidence in securing the murder conviction after a two-week trial ending on December 3, 2025.
Who Is the Convicted Killer Elyas Moussa?
Elyas Moussa, aged 30 and listed as of no fixed address, emerged as the central figure in this North London tragedy. Court records confirm he contacted authorities from a public phone box on December 29, 2024, explicitly stating his intent to surrender following the incident. MyLondon reports note that Moussa’s actions prompted his immediate arrest and charging with murder alongside possession of a bladed article.
Prior to the murder verdict, Moussa had entered a guilty plea at an earlier hearing for possessing a pointed and bladed article in public on the day of the stabbing, December 28, 2024. The Old Bailey jury delivered the murder guilty verdict on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, capping a trial that scrutinised his movements post-attack.
Who Was Victim Ricardo Clarke?
Ricardo Clarke, 35, became the tragic victim in this case, stabbed during the early morning clash on Linacre Road. Coverage from MyLondon details how Clarke, after sustaining knife wounds, bled out while attempting to reach A&E for treatment. The prosecution outlined that the attack proved fatal despite his efforts to seek medical help.
No further personal details on Clarke’s background appear in initial reports, with focus remaining on the circumstances of the assault in Willesden Green. The incident has drawn attention amid ongoing concerns over knife crime in the area, as tagged in related MyLondon coverage.
What Happened During the Old Bailey Trial?
The two-week trial at the Old Bailey culminated in Elyas Moussa’s murder conviction on December 3, 2025. Jurors reviewed evidence including the CCTV compilation that mapped the fight’s progression from bottles to blades on Linacre Road. MyLondon’s account confirms Moussa’s prior guilty plea to the bladed article charge influenced proceedings.
Sentencing remains set for December 17, 2025, at the same court, where the judge will determine Moussa’s punishment. Detective Inspector Jonny Newell’s comments, as quoted, affirm the police’s thorough work in building the case despite the suspect’s self-surrender.
Why Did Moussa Call Police from a Phone Box?
Following the stabbing, Elyas Moussa sought out a phone box to contact police on December 29, 2024, declaring his desire to hand himself in. This unusual step, as reported by MyLondon, led directly to his arrest later that Sunday. Authorities charged him promptly with murder and possession of a bladed article.
Moussa’s initiative did not hinder the investigation, with officers still assembling a comprehensive CCTV timeline. As Detective Inspector Jonny Newell noted:
“Despite Moussa handing himself in, officers worked quickly to meticulously piece together what happened that night,”
ensuring all evidence aligned for trial.
How Does This Fit into Willesden Green’s Knife Crime Patterns?
The fatal stabbing occurred amid heightened knife crime concerns in Willesden Green, as linked in MyLondon’s coverage under its knife crime and hospitals tags. Linacre Road, the attack site, featured prominently in the CCTV reconstruction of events from 4.15am on December 28, 2024. Ricardo Clarke’s death en route to A&E amplifies local hospital strain narratives.
No broader statistics emerge directly from this case, but the incident underscores persistent violence in North London boroughs like Brent. Police efforts, praised by DI Newell, reflect standard responses to such tragedies.
What Evidence Secured the Murder Conviction?
Investigators relied heavily on a CCTV timeline to trace the altercation’s path, from the initial fight and bottle-throwing to the stabbing. MyLondon reports detail how this visual evidence bridged Moussa’s surrender and the charges. Moussa’s guilty plea to possessing the weapon on December 28, 2024, further bolstered the prosecution.
The two-week Old Bailey trial integrated these elements, leading to the December 3, 2025, verdict. Sentencing on December 17 will conclude judicial proceedings.
When and Where Will Moussa Be Sentenced?
Elyas Moussa faces sentencing at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. This follows his murder conviction on December 3, 2025, and earlier guilty plea. The court in central London handled the full case, from trial to forthcoming punishment.
