Trevelle Rowland, 34, of Cornelia Street, was found guilty of murder, dangerous driving, and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm at a hearing at Inner London Crown Court yesterday (January 12).
It follows an incident in East Ham at 5.20am on March 24, 2024.
The Metropolitan Police was alerted to reports of a crash on Barking Road.
A 35-year-old man who has since been identified as Fergany Mvuezolo was found severely injured at the scene and was pronounced dead a short while later.
Fergany was found suffering severe injuries (Image: Metropolitan Police)
CCTV evidence, witness testimony and mobile phone footage revealed the events that led up to the fatal crash, with eye witnesses identifying Rowland as the driver of the VW Tiguan involved.
The court heard how Fergany was known to Rowland who, on that evening, was among a group of men who became involved in an argument with the security guard outside a restaurant.
Rowland was seen to leave the scene in his VW Tiguan, only to return a short time later and run it into Fergany.
The 35-year-old was arrested at Heathrow Airport later that day whilst trying to flee the country.
A receipt from the restaurant in Barking Road was found on his person.
During the investigation, officers linked the fatal crash to a similar incident in East Ham ten months prior.
It was discovered that a pair of security guards had been driven into on Ripple Road, Barking, on May 29, 2023, following an argument after Rowland was asked to remove a baseball cap.
One security guard was thrown onto the bonnet of the car, sustaining injuries to his right knee and ankle. The second guard suffered a minor hand injury.
The car involved was the same VW, which was later impounded after it was found parked in Dartford.
Rowland attended Dagenham police station the following day to enquire about the car.
Rowland was located at Heathrow Airport trying to flee the country (Image: Metropolitan Police)
According to the Met he lied to officers and claimed he had no knowledge of the incident outside the pub, maintaining he had rented the vehicle to an associate.
He was later identified by his victims as the man who drove the VW at them.
Rowland was subsequently charged with murder and two counts of attempted Section 18 grievous bodily harm.
He will be sentenced on January 15.
Detective Inspector Aytac Necati said: “Rowland is an extremely dangerous man. He used his car as a weapon against three men – one of whom tragically lost his life.
“Rowland is also a devious liar. He misled police about the initial attack, in which he ran his car into a pair of security guards over a trivial dispute – only to go on to kill another man using the exact same method. Both of the incidents were captured on CCTV.
“We would like to express our sympathies to the family of Fergany Mvuezolo, and to Rowland’s two living victims. The defendant has left a trail of destruction in his wake.”