Small boat migrant imprisoned for Oxford university stabbing

Thomas Mesai Siyoum, of Heath Crescent, Coventry, was sentenced to three years and one month at Oxford Crown Court today (Thursday, April 9).

This was for section 20 unlawful wounding at the Oxford Brookes University James Wolfe Road campus against Abubaker Kadir on July 20 last year.

In addition, he was handed a concurrent sentence by Judge Maria Lamb for being in possession of a bladed article in a public place, namely a knife, for which he was given a 10-month sentence.

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Previously the jury had found him not guilty of the more serious crime of section 18 wounding with intent at the Crown Court on Thursday, March 12.

Siyoum, who required an Amharic interpreter in court, was initially born in Eritrea but had stints in both Ethiopia and Libya before crossing to the UK on a small boat on December 27, 2024.

His exact age during the trial was not identified, with Judge Lamb stating that it had been indicated he was either 18, 21 or 25.

Police are searching for this man in connection with the stabbing in Cowley (Image: Thames Valley Police)

During the initial trial Siyoum said he spoke to Mr Kadir on TikTok while he was in Libya, en-route to the UK.

He said they met in-person in Birmingham.

This is despite Mr Kadir saying they had never met before, although the judge said she believed they knew one another.

Siyoum told the jury there was a fight at a concert in London and a post on TikTok accused people from Eritrea of being involved, including Mr Kadir.

Siyoum and Kadir were seen on CCTV arguing, after which the former went to get the knife.

Police in James Wolfe Road (Image: Newsquest)

At the trial he was asked if he was planning to stab Mr Kadir. He replied: “Never.”

In his closing speech at the trial, prosecution barrister Christopher Pembridge said: “Mr Mesai got aggravated by something. Was it being called gay?

“Suddenly a strong, determined, out of the blue thrust downwards with the knife. He intended to bury the knife into his leg.

“Mr Mesai absolutely lost his cool. He completely saw red and took it out on Mr Kadir.”

Thomas Mesai Siyoum was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month at Oxford Crown Court (Image: TVP)

Mr Kadir was stabbed in the leg and the arm and at today’s sentencing hearing the judge said she did believe it was “life-threatening”.

In her summary, she said: “Were it not for the quick thinking of Mr Kadir’s companions in manufacturing a tourniquet and the work of the emergency services the outcome could have been very different.”

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Summarising, she added: “Whatever the topic of your falling out I do not regard it as any form of justification for what you then did.”

After he had retrieved the knife from his accommodation, he had taken his shoes off which the judge said she believed was so he could move quicker.

She took into account Mr Siyoum’s age, that he had pleaded guilty to the charge and that he had tried to source help for the victim once he had stabbed him.

Subject to a current Home Office investigation into his immigration status he will be required to serve at least 40 per cent of his sentence.