First picture of thug sentenced to life in prison for West Croydon murder
By Aline Nassif
aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk
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LIFE SENTENCE: Steven Braithwaite
This is the first picture of Steven Braithwaite who has today (Wednesday) been given a life sentence today for stabbing Nilanthan Murddi to death.
Braithwaite, 31, plunged a knife into 17-year-old Nilanthan neck after previously screaming a racist obscenity at him and his friends from the back of a taxi.
Nilanthan, of Warbank Crescent, New Addington, was toasting a friend's birthday in the street when he started picking arguments with strangers in passing cars in West Croydon.
One passer-by he shouted at was Braithwaite, who returned to settle the row by killing him.
Judge David Radford jailed Braithwaite for life and ordered he serve at least 19 years before he can be considered for parole.
Braithwaite had been found guilty of Nilanthan's murder last Friday.
*For Nilanthan's sister's reaction to Braithwaite being found guilty of her brother's murder see this week's Advertiser - out on Friday
5 Comments
by vicky, croydon
Saturday, July 04 2009, 1:24PM
“we all learn by mistakes n hopefully people will learn from stevens, he no different from ay of us, what gives peple the right 2 just start on passerbys? there is no excuse 4 what happened, both sides have lost a loved 1, stevens family will have flown, 19 years is a long time, my faults r also with them, much love steve,xx”
by vicky, croydon
Saturday, July 04 2009, 1:20PM
“my deepest thoughts 2 the boys family”
by Bazza, Croydon
Thursday, July 02 2009, 12:32PM
“Why did they feel the need to antagonise strangers in passing cars late at night in the heart of West Croydon??? Why would anyone do such a thing!!
Sooner or later you're going to start on the wrong one and the inevitable will occur (although murder is taking it a bit too far)...You cant be that naive in a scum-ridden place like that and think you can get away with it.....”
by The3rd, Croydon
Thursday, July 02 2009, 8:02AM
“Totally agree Anon. While I do not condone the murder, the youths must accept some responsibility for their actions. If they werent terrorising passerbys then they would not have picked a fight with the psycho Steven Braithwaite.”
by Anon, Anon
Wednesday, July 01 2009, 6:26PM
“no need to kill anyone but, hopefully youths will be damn careful who they annoy in future...”