County lines drug dealer found guilty of murder after stabbing rival during raid to steal drugs in Hampshire

Olamide Soyege, 29, of Mayswood Gardens, Dagenham, was found guilty of 18-year-old Taylor Williams’ murder by a jury sitting at Winchester Crown Court following a seven-week trial.

He and co-defendant Terence Maccabee, 19, of Radnor Road, Peckham, had both denied killing Taylor, who was found with stab wounds in the street at Shooters Way, Basingstoke, on Saturday August 31, 2019.

Taylor, from Bromley, later died in hospital.

The jury found Maccabee not guilty of murder but guilty of Taylor's manslaughter.

Soyege, Maccabee and third co-defendant, Paige Taylor, 24, of St Michael's Road, Basingstoke, were all found guilty of robbery of an unnamed victim in Bermuda Park, Basingstoke, on August 31 and conspiracy to rob Taylor and others.

On a further offence of possessing a bladed article, Maccabee was found guilty and Soyege was found not guilty.

The jury was told Taylor was part of a London based drug network who was staying at a flat at Kingfisher House, Shooters Way, Basingstoke, when rivals from another drug network turned up and tried to rob him and his associates.

Soyege threatened Taylor at knifepoint before a fight broke out with Taylor pushing Soyege, who retaliated with a punch.

Taylor escaped via a window following a struggle and then realised he had been stabbed.

He was found in the street with stab wounds to his heart by paramedics who were unable to save him after he was taken to hospital.

Maccabee sustained five stab wounds during the fight and was placed in an induced coma while being treated in hospital.

He was later arrested on suspicion of murder while still in hospital.

Following his death, Taylor's family said: ‘Words cannot express the way we feel about losing a much loved son and brother.

‘Taylor was a charming, loving and funny young man with a large extended family who supported him throughout his years.

‘Our Taylor has been taken from us in such a heartbreaking, devastating way but our faith in god is such that we know the Lord will find a way to turn this tragic incident into something positive. We love you Taylor. Sleep in eternal peace.’

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