Three men have been found guilty in relation to the death of Stevenage man Bereket Selomun, who was sadly found in a woodland in the town last year. 

Following a four-week trial at St Albans Crown Court, Jelani Omar, 24, of Plash Drive in Stevenage, was found guilty of murder today (Thursday, March 30). He had denied the charge.

Meanwhile, Malake Fiseha, 24, of Manor View in Stevenage and Natnael Hadgu, 19, of Ripon Road in Stevenage, were found guilty of manslaughter and not guilty of murder.

A fourth man, Robel Msgane, 23, of no fixed abode, was charged with assisting an offender and found guilty.

The case against a fifth man, Temesgen Gebremedhin, was discontinued in September 2022.

The four men who were found guilty will be sentenced at a later date.

Bereket, aged 20, was found dead shortly before 7.30am on Thursday, July 7, 2022, in woodland off Brittain Way near Fairlands Valley Park.

He had suffered multiple stab wounds, and an investigation was launched by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Major Crime Unit.

Bereket's brother, Michale Solomun, has paid tribute to his sibling.

He said: “No words could ever explain or put into context how we have felt since Bereket was taken from us in such horrific circumstances.

“He fled Eritrea in the hopes of living a safer and better life in the UK, only to have his life brutally cut short.

“Bereket was a gregarious, courteous, altruistic, generous, hard-working, and peace-loving young man.

"His ambition was to study business management and go on to run his own business one day. This choice has been taken from him.

“Bereket’s death has left a void in our family that cannot be repaired.”

Detective Inspector Iain MacPherson, from the BCH Major Crime Unit, added: “Our thoughts remain with Bereket’s family at this extremely difficult time.

“Bereket was a young man who had his life in front of him. He had settled in Hertfordshire having come to this country from Eritrea.

"He was murdered following a dispute with people he knew and who had also settled in this country having come from Eritrea.

“Of course, nothing can bring Bereket back, however we hope the guilty verdicts will be welcomed by Bereket’s family and give them some justice.

“This case sadly highlights the real dangers of carrying a knife which can end lives and destroy others.”