Five convicted after man murdered in drug robbery

Four men and one woman have been convicted after a man was robbed and murdered in Liverpool.

Michael Fields, 50, Elsadig Abrahim, 61, Zayd Alasaly, 24, Sarah Kasseum, 41, and Dylan Blundell, 27, were found guilty of planning and carrying out a robbery in West Derby on 15 October 2024 - during which, Paul Foster, 47, was fatally stabbed.

At Liverpool Crown Court, Shields and Alasaly were found guilty of murder, Abrahim, Blundell and Kasseum were found guilty of manslaughter, and all five were found guilty of robbery and carrying an imitation firearm with criminal intent.

They will be sentenced on Thursday 21 May.

The incident happened in the early hours of 15 October 2024 - at just after 01:30 GMT - when the five arrived at a property on Muirhead Avenue.

Fields drove the group to the address in a black Kia Ceed and parked on nearby Maxwell Road.

Foster was known to sell drugs from the address and the group had arrived - armed with an imitation firearm - with a plan to steal money and drugs.

Fields and Alasaly also had a knife.

Kasseum used the buzzer at the property, with the group believing Simons would recognise her.

Foster looked out of the window and instructed the woman who lived in the flat to let her in.

When the woman went downstairs she was confronted by four men dressed in black and wearing balaclavas.

She ran back into the flat, screaming, but the men forced their way inside, demanding money and drugs.

Foster was stabbed in the back during the incident and the group fled the scene with cash, drugs and a mobile phone.

Part of an air pistol, stained with blood, was recovered at the address, but the knife used in the attack was never found.

When they were arrested, all five defendants denied being involved.

At earlier hearings, Dylan Blundell admitted robbery, and Michael Fields admitted robbery and manslaughter.

But the manslaughter pleas were not accepted.

Following the verdict on Monday, Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor James Allison said: "Each of the defendants played a key role in a planned robbery which resulted in the death of Paul Foster.

"Michael Fields drove the group to the scene, while Sarah Kasseum used her connection to Mr Foster to gain entry to the address.

"Thereafter, Michael Fields, Elsadig Abrahim, Zayd Alasaly and Dylan Blundell went inside armed with weapons to rob Paul Foster and, if it came to it, to inflict serious violence — and that is exactly what happened.

"The jury was sure that all five were aware of the nature of the plan and that their actions led directly to Mr Foster's death.

"I would like to thank Merseyside Police for their work in this complex investigation. Our thoughts remain with Mr Foster's family and friends."