Chilling moment music industry boss, 32, was stalked by gang of muggers before he was stabbed to death for fake '£125,000' Patek Philippe watch

 Emmanuel Odunlami,32, was celebrating his birthday when he was targeted

A music industry boss was stalked by a gang of muggers before he was stabbed to death for a fake luxury watch.

Emmanuel Odunlami,32, was at a private party at Haz Restaurant on Foster Lane in the City of London on May 1 2022 to celebrate his birthday.

Unbeknownst to Mr Odunlami, a security guard at the event- Kavindu Hettiarachchi- was secretly recording Mr Odunlami on his phone. Hettiarachchi then sent the images to Louis Vandrose, 28  from Thornton Heath, highlighting him as a potential target due to, what looked like, a £125,000 Patek Phillipe watch on his wrist.

At around 11.20pm as his birthday party was ending, Mr Odunlami was unknowingly followed by Vandrose, Jordell Menzies, 27 from Brent, and Quincy Ffrench, 28 from Tottenham. The gang stalked the music industry boss from a car while he walked over to his own car.

As Mr Odunlami approached his car all three men left their vehicle and chased him. Menzies had a lock knife and stabbed him in the heart. Vandrose then pushed him to the ground while Menzies continuously kicked the victim.

Emmanuel Odunlami,32, was stabbed and mugged for his watch after leaving his birthday party at Haz restaurant in London. The watch appeared to be a £125,000 Patek Philippe watch but was later revealed to be a fake

Chilling video shows the moment Emmanuel Odunlami was mugged and stabbed for his watch, which was  later revealed to be a fake

Jordell Menzies, 27 from Brent, Menzies was found guilty of murder and robbery at the Old Bailey on December 20. Menzies stabbed Mr Odunlami in the heart, He was sentenced today at the Old Bailey to 31 years for murder with eight years concurrent for robbery

Ffrench then removed his watch and could be heard on nearby CCTV shouting ‘got it, got it, yeah.’ The three men then ran to their getaway car, which belonged to Ffrench’s mother and had doctored number plates, and fled the scene.

The injured Mr Odunlami was attended to by his friends before police officers arrived shortly afterwards, where they provided first aid before an ambulance arrived.

Mr Odunlami later died from his injuries in the early hours of May 2 at Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel .

The watch stolen from Mr Odunlami looked like a luxury Patek Phillipe watch but was in fact a fake.

Shocking CCTV footage shows Hettiarachchi watching the attack he instigated unfold before he walked over to the fatally injured Mr Odunlami and simply turned around. Fellow security guard Antonis Kfoury also did the same.

Having identified the suspects from the knife- which was recovered the following morning in London Wall with traces of the victim’s blood on it, and the car’s true registration number, the men involved were arrested.

Menzies was found guilty of murder and robbery at the Old Bailey on December 20 last year. While Ffrench, Vandrose and Hettiarachchi were previously convicted of manslaughter and robbery on April 18 2023.

Kfoury was found guilty on 18 April 2023 of perverting the course of justice and subsequently received an 18 month custodial sentence for providing a false statement and attempting to influence the evidence provided.

Today at the Old Bailey Menzies was sentenced to 31 years for murder with eight years concurrent for robbery. While Ffrench and Vandrose were jailed for 15 years each and Hettiarachchi was jailed for 13 years. Kfoury is yet to be sentenced.

Louis Vandrose (right) pushed Mr Odunlami to the ground after Menzies stabbed him. Quincy Ffrench (left) took Mr Odunlami watch from his wrist after he was stabbed

Kavindu Hettiarachchi (right) spotted Mr Odunlami’s watch and sent a video of it to Vandrose. Kfoury was was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and subsequently received an  for providing a false statement and attempting to influence the evidence provided

Haz Restaurant on Foster Lane where Mr Odunlami was celebrating his birthday when he was spotted as a potential target by Hettiarachchi

Detective Chief Inspector Edelle Michaels from the City of London Police Major Crime Team said: ‘This was a callous and co-ordinated murder of a young man, that has left his children without a father and devastated his family and friends.

‘Emmanuel should have been able to celebrate his birthday without fear of being attacked because of the watch he wore on his wrist.

‘If you carry a knife and murder a man who was running away, it is not a mugging ‘gone wrong’, it is murder and we will do our utmost to bring you to justice. What makes this crime even more startling, is that a man employed to protect people on a night out as a security guard, was looking for victims for his accomplices to attack and rob.

‘Emmanuel’s family have now seen all the men responsible for his death brought to justice, but I know their loss will be with them forever and our thoughts remain with them.

‘Crimes such as these are rare in the City, but should they occur we will use our powers and the professionalism of our officers to pursue those responsible and remove them from our streets.’