Rakeem Miles, 23, of East Street in Southwark, has been convicted of manslaughter at Inner London Crown Court following a fatal altercation at a London Underground station.
The court heard that on the evening of Thursday, 22 August 2024, the victim, 28-year-old Samuel Winter, arrived at the station after travelling on the eastbound Jubilee Line. Miles had also been on the same service, though in a separate carriage, and there was no prior interaction between the two men.
As Samuel exited the station, he proceeded up an escalator, brushing past Miles in the process. At this moment, Miles reached toward him, but Samuel continued walking without stopping. While Miles remained in place for a brief moment, Samuel passed through the barrier line and began to exit via the stairs.
A few seconds later, Miles followed, shouting after him. He then caught up with Samuel, grabbed him from behind with enough force to rip his top in two, turned him to face him, and struck him once to the head. The single punch caused Samuel to collapse onto the stairs, where he remained motionless as Miles walked away from the scene.
Emergency services were called to the location, where paramedics administered CPR before transporting Samuel to the hospital with a critical brain injury. British Transport Police (BTP) launched an immediate investigation, securing CCTV footage and identifying Miles as a suspect
Enquiries revealed that Miles had used the same card to top up his Oyster card at a shop near the station the previous day. On the morning of 23 August, officers attended the shop, where a member of staff confirmed that Miles had recently left. He was located outside the premises and arrested on suspicion of Grievous Bodily Harm.
By the evening of Saturday, 24 August, Samuel succumbed to his injuries in hospital, surrounded by his family. The charge against Miles was subsequently upgraded to manslaughter. He remained in custody as the case proceeded to trial at Inner London Crown Court.
During proceedings, the prosecution presented CCTV evidence capturing the sequence of events leading up to the fatal confrontation. The footage, along with witness testimony, demonstrated that there had been no prior dispute or physical engagement between the two men before the incident. The court was told that Miles’ actions had been unprovoked and that after striking Samuel, he made no effort to assist him or call for help before continuing on his way.
Following deliberations, the jury returned a guilty verdict for manslaughter. Sentencing has been scheduled for 8 May at Inner London Crown Court, where the court will determine the appropriate custodial term for Miles based on the severity of the offence, aggravating and mitigating factors, and relevant sentencing guidelines.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell, leading the case for BTP, highlighted the swift investigative work that led to Miles’ identification and arrest. The court’s ruling underscores the legal principle that a single act of violence, even one as seemingly isolated as a single punch, can result in criminal liability for unlawful killing.
The case serves as a reminder of the legal consequences of spontaneous acts of aggression, particularly in public spaces monitored by extensive surveillance networks.
The forthcoming sentencing hearing will consider all factors relevant to the determination of Miles' punishment, including any prior convictions, character references, and the court’s assessment of his intent at the time of the offence.
Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all, stay safe, and I’ll see you then.
Bénédict Tarot Freeman
Editor-at-Large
VPN City-Desk
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