Killing of Tashan Daniel of Sri Lankan origin: British man to face life sentence in London

By Sujeeva Nivunhella in London

A 23-year-old British man, Alex Lanning, will face life sentence after the jury last week convicted him of knifing to death Tashan Daniel (20) of Sri Lankan origin in London in 2019.

Lanning’s friend, 19-year-old Jonathan Camille was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.

The incident took place on September 24, 2019 at the Hillingdon underground rail station. Daniel, a supporter of Arsenal football team, was on his way to watch a match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest with tickets he received as his 20th birthday present from his parents.

Lanning had stabbed Daniel after accusing him of glaring at him from across the platform.

The Aviator 1 knife Lanning used to stab Daniel was a film prop from Warner Brothers studios, where he worked. This knife was used in the ‘Fast and Furious’ film, and Lanning had stolen it from the studios as memorabilia. Paramedics battled to save Daniel’s life, but he succumbed to his injuries.

Lanning was jailed for four years at Lewes Crown Court after admitting stabbing a client seven times on the chest in Brighton on July 15, 2016 when he was selling him drugs.

He was released from HMP Rochester prison in March 2018 after serving half of his four year sentence and was on licence at the time he murdered Daniel.

Judge Mark Dennis ordered reports and will sentence Lanning and his friend Camille on a date to be fixed.