A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for fatally stabbing another man during a dispute over money. Fawaz Abdulkareem, 36, was convicted of murdering Daniel Manuel at Abdulkareem’s flat in Vauxhall, South London, on July 5 last year.

The incident occurred in the early hours after the two men had spent the evening at a club and later returned to Abdulkareem’s residence with friends. A confrontation over a debt escalated, resulting in Manuel being stabbed three times with a kitchen knife. Abdulkareem then left the flat with the weapon concealed in his waistband. Upon reporting Manuel’s injuries to building staff, Abdulkareem covered the knife with his T-shirt. When emergency responders arrived, he attempted to dispose of the knife by throwing it out of a window on the 14th floor but was apprehended after an officer noticed blood on his clothing.

Abdulkareem claimed self-defence during the investigation. However, forensic evidence indicated that Manuel’s wounds were inflicted while he was facing away, challenging the defendant’s version of events.

At Croydon Crown Court on Friday, Abdulkareem was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 17 years before being eligible for parole.

Manuel’s wife, Zulal, described the profound impact of the loss, stating that her husband was not only her partner but also her emotional support and the foundation of her life. She said the violent and sudden manner of his death has profoundly affected every aspect of her life.