Daniel Frederick murder: Five teens guilty of killing Stoke Newington father in case of mistaken identity

Five teenagers have been found guilty of the brutal killing of father-of-three Daniel Frederick in Stoke Newington – a chilling case of mistaken identity.

Kacper Karasinski, 18, of Mount Pleasant Lane, Upper Clapton, and a 17-year-old boy from Ilford have today been convicted of murdering 34-year-old Daniel following a month-long trial.

Yigiter Gok, 18, of Sanford Walk, Stoke Newington, and another 17-year-old boy from Hackney were both cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter.

Another boy, 16 and also from Hackney, had already admitted murdering Daniel yards from his home in Shakspeare Walk. He was stabbed seven times just before 5.30pm on January 8 and died in hospital later that night, with the fatal blow piercing his left lung.

Daniel had no gang affiliations and had spent the day at hospital with his pregnant partner. He was heading out to meet friends to play computer games when he was attacked.

The gang, hooded and wielding knives, attacked him from behind and repeatedly kicked, punched and stabbed him in front of terrified onlookers – including children.

They ran after being confronted by a passer-by but DNA found at the scene matched Karasinski and the 17-year-old found guilty of murder.

Four of the five defendants had left London after appeals for information in the wake of the murder. Karasinski booked a flight to Oslo the day after, and the day after that Gok took a ferry to France and onto Turkey.

Det Insp Paul Considine, the senior investigating officer from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “This was a ruthless, violent and unprovoked attack in which Daniel stood no chance. He was completely taken by surprise by his attackers who cowardly stabbed him in the back giving him no opportunity to defend himself.

“All five defendants disguised and armed themselves and willingly carried out a brutal attack on Daniel knowing it was likely there would only be one outcome, the infliction of very serious injuries or death.”

“This was a complex investigation made more difficult as Daniel was mistakenly targeted by his attackers. My team diligently pieced together the evidence and then located, arrested and charged all those responsible for his death.

“I am delighted that the jury has convicted the defendants and hope it provides Daniel’s family with a small measure of comfort and closure.”