A killer who fled London after stabbing a man to death was identified by a single fingerprint.

Liban Ali, 31, was tracked across the UK after he stabbed 44-year-old Andre Foster in a flat on Mowbray Road, Kilburn, on December 22, 2022.

Ali later admitted stabbing Andre in the neck during a fight between the pair, but initially attempted to evade police by leaving London to Nottingham immediately after the killing.

Police were called at 9.55am that day to reports of a man stabbed at Gable Lodge on Mowbray Road. Andre was treated by medics but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Andre Foster was killed in KilburnAndre Foster was killed in Kilburn (Image: Met Police)

A special post-mortem examination at Northwick Park Mortuary gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the neck.

Ali was believed to be the likely killer as a single fingerprint at the sink in the bathroom was found and showed as a match since he was known to police from previous drug and weapon related convictions.

Days after the murder, Ali was arrested in Nottingham on December 23 and taken to police custody. He was charged with murder on December 26.

He was also charged with drug offences and possession of a bladed article at the time of his arrest.

At the Old Bailey on January 23, the prosecution accepted Ali's guilty plea of manslaughter. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding in a separate matter involving a man attacked with a weapon on December 9, 2022, at Fordwych Road, Cricklewood.

At a previous hearing, he had also admitted to possession of a bladed article and two counts of supplying a Class A drug.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Liban Ali has been jailedLiban Ali has been jailed (Image: Met Police)He was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment: nine years for manslaughter, four years for the two counts of supplying a Class A drug, possession of an offensive weapon and unlawful wounding in relation to a separate matter.

Detective Inspector Jonny Newell, the investigating officer, said: “This is an extremely sad case of a man losing his life in a violent, unnecessary and sudden way. Ali accepted that he killed Andre in self-defence and also admitted a range of other offences.

“Ali is a criminal who causes harm to people, and he belongs in prison.

“Andre was very much loved by his family, who miss him terribly, and I hope that they can find some measure of comfort that the man who killed him will be behind bars for an extremely lengthy period of time.”