Harper Dennis Found Guilty of Manslaughter in Leicester Stabbing
Conviction follows fatal stabbing near De Montfort University over alleged debt and counterfeit watch dispute.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Carla Rooney
Harper Dennis, 19, has been found guilty of manslaughter.
Oladipo was on the phone with his girlfriend during the February 3 assault. She heard him demand, "Why did you come up to me and stab me?"
Prosecutors contend Dennis initiated the attack over a financial grievance. Prosecutor Jane Osborne KC asserted Dennis killed Oladipo due to a 'perceived debt' linked to a counterfeit Rolex watch.
Dennis, however, claimed self-defense, reportedly telling the court he sent Oladipo £6,000 from his parents' savings to generate money through scams. He never received his investment back.
This is not deep entrenched criminality. What it appears is two young men with their lives ahead of them have had a falling out and one has reacted, I would say, completely disproportionately and unnecessarily to exact some retribution.
Dennis claimed Oladipo provided him with a fake watch to settle the debt. Two Hatton Garden jewelers confirmed the watch was counterfeit when Dennis attempted its sale.
Dennis also claimed he threatened to expose Oladipo online as untrustworthy and a 'bad businessman'. He further claimed he feared for his life, acting in self-defense when Oladipo approached him with a knife.
He stated he did not realize he had stabbed Oladipo during their altercation. Dennis was 'shocked' upon his arrest.
Detective Inspector Lorna Granville described the circumstances as shocking. She noted the profound impact on the student community.
Granville stated, "This is not deep entrenched criminality. What it appears is two young men with their lives ahead of them have had a falling out and one has reacted, I would say, completely disproportionately and unnecessarily to exact some retribution."
Dennis is scheduled for sentencing later on Tuesday. Detective Inspector Granville added, "They are grieving. They are slowly realising that potentially this was over a silly dispute and they have to live with the loss of that for eternity and they are struggling to come to terms with that."
They are grieving. They are slowly realising that potentially this was over a silly dispute and they have to live with the loss of that for eternity and they are struggling to come to terms with that.