Student accused of Tolworth Broadway stabbing found not guilty after six month jail spell

Jurors found a college student accused of stabbing a man in Tolworth Broadway innocent after he spent nearly six months in jail awaiting his trial.

Larry Kukoyi, 22, of Millais Way, Epsom, was arrested and charged with attempted murder after an evening rush-hour fight in Tolworth on March 10, this year.

The charge against him was later downgraded to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily.

Following his arrest Mr Kukoyi twice applied for bail in the months leading up to his trial and on both occasions the Crown Prosecution Service opposed it. But on Friday a jury found him not guilty at Kingston Crown Court after a trial lasting five days.

During the trial Mr Kukoyi argued he had acted in self defence in stabbing 23-year-old victim Fabrice Benjamin three times in the stomach with a kitchen knife. Jurors were also shown CCTV footage of the fight that appeared to be instigated by the victim, before he was stabbed with his own kitchen knife outside the Lebanese cafe Rose Kitchen.

Police officers arrested Mr Kukoyi in Goals football centre in Kingston Road, where he had fled to. He was found hiding in the toilets. The knife used was also found under a toilet seat at the centre.

Victim Mr Benjamin chose not to give evidence in the trial and was said to have refused to cooperate with police.

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