Usher Sawyers. Image: Met Police

A 16-year-old boy has been found guilty of breaking into a southwest London home and stabbing the owner to death.

Usher Sawyers, of Carlton Drive East Putney, was just 15 when he attacked 39 year old Martin Thomas in his Roehampton home on 22nd April last year.

Today he was convicted of murder and robbery.

Odel Munrow-Sobers, who’s 20, of Sudbury House, Wandsworth High Street, has been found guilty of manslaughter and robbery.

Another young man from the Wandsworth area – just 13 at the time of the incident – has also been found guilty of manslaughter and robbery.

Neighbours saw three males enter the home of Mr Thomas at around 8 o’clock on the night of 22nd April.

Within minutes the three were seen fleeing the scene.

Sawyers had entered the property first and stabbed Mr Thomas five times, puncturing his lungs.

The others waited outside until they were given a signal to enter and begin stealing property.

Police were called and upon their arrival Mr Thomas was discovered slumped in his kitchen.

Officers were able to recover a bloody deerstalker hat at the scene that led them to identify and arrest Sawyers.

Further inquires into CCTV footage led to the identification and arrest of the others involved.

Judge Gerald Gordon ended the reporting ban on the identification of Sawyers because:

…the public interest and knowledge of knife crime, its appalling consequences, has to outweigh the interests of the young being protected.

Martin Thomas. Image: Met Police

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Andrew Rees, of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said:

Martin Thomas was the victim of a terrifying and vicious attack in his own home. Whilst he knew one of his attackers, such incidents in the home are still incredibly rare and isolated.

“I am very grateful to the local community who helped us to piece together the tragic events leading to Mr Thomas’s death. I hope today’s verdict goes some way to bringing some solace to his family and friends at this very difficult time.

The three young men are scheduled to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, 13th March.