'Thug' convicted of murdering student on railway

A killer who bragged "I stabbed him fully" after attacking an accounting student on railway tracks is facing a jail sentence.

Dino Donaldson, fatally stabbed Anojan Gnaneswaran, 21, at Strawberry Hill station on 8 January 2024 after a row broke out about between two groups of men over a drug deal, the Old Bailey heard.

Donaldson - who was described in court as a "remorseless thug" - was recorded less than an hour later on CCTV on an N87 night bus smiling and laughing.

On Tuesday, Donaldson, 21, of Caxton Road, Ealing, was found guilty of murder by a unanimous verdict following a trial. He has been remanded in custody while he awaits sentencing.

The Old Bailey heard how Donaldson pushed the 21-year-old onto railway tracks and stabbed him in the chest, abdomen and thigh in an argument over £50 for MDMA tablets.

Gnaneswaran was pronounced dead at the scene.

Donaldson was later recorded by a doorbell camera saying: "I stabbed him through the back bro, I stabbed him fully. I watched it and I felt it go in him..."

He was arrested at his home in west London on 11 January 2024 where he was discovered hiding in a cupboard.

Police found 74 wraps of crack and heroin in his bedroom with a street value of more than £1,000.

British Transport Police (BTP) Det Ch Insp Paul Attwell said: "What started as an argument over a drug deal ended in a young man's life being cut short by a remorseless thug.

"Donaldson showed his true colours as a coward by arming himself with a knife that night.

"His cowardice has continued by never accepting responsibility and admitting his crime – thankfully the jury saw through his lies.

Gnaneswaran's family paid tribute to a "much-loved son and brother".

In a statement issued through BTP, they said: "Anojan was in his third year at university studying accounting and finance, and he was so excited for his future.

"He excelled at all sports and had achieved first-dan black belt in karate – he competed in the World and European championships in karate, and we will all miss him so much."

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