Middlesex University murder: Kevin Mao sentenced to life for stabbing Noor Hassan Barre to death

Kevin Mao has been sentenced to life for stabbing to death Noor Hassan Barre at the Middlesex University campus.

Mao, 20, was found found guilty of the murder of 22-year-old Hassan Barre at the Old Bailey on Tuesday (21 April).

He was sentenced at the same court and told he will serve at least 26 years in a young offenders' institution for the killing.

Hassan Barre sustained stab wounds to his chest during a fight that broke out at the north London university at around 1am on Halloween after Mao directed a flirtatious comment towards Hassan Barre's female friend.

This confrontation turned to violence, culminating in Mao taking a knife from his waistband and fatally stabbing Hassan Barre.

Noor managed to run a few yards before collapsing. Despite paramedics performing emergency surgery, he was formally pronounced dead on arrival at St Mary's Hospital.

Both of the men had attended an event at Middlesex University's Hendon Campus hosted by the University's African Caribbean Society.

He was airlifted to hospital but later died from his injuries. A post-mortem examination held at Northwick Park Hospital, gave the cause of death as stab wounds to the chest.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Ashwin, of the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "This is another tragic waste of life resulting from a young man carrying a knife. Noor Barre's murder will have long lasting consequences for all the families involved.

"I would like to express my thanks to everyone at Middlesex University for all their assistance with our investigation."

Four people were arrested during the investigation. Sodiq Adebayo, 24, from Ilford, who was charged with the murder, was found not guilty at court, while a 21-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man were released with no further action.