A United Kingdom-based Nigerian man, Oluwadamilola Ogunyankinnu, has been charged with murder over allegations of knifing a 21-year-old film student Finbar Sullivan to death. 

Reports noted that the incident happened on Tuesday at Primrose Hill, a well-known beauty spot in London, where Mr Sullivan had gone to test a camera he bought for his 21st birthday when a scuffle reportedly broke out between him and Mr Ogunyankinnu.

Mr Sullivan’s father Christopher, an artist, said that he got a call from one of the victim’s friends and immediately rushed to the scene. However, he stated that when he got to there, he only saw his son’s remains with multiple stab wounds. 

He noted that the friend performed more than 20 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the deceased but “the one that killed him was in the leg which severed an artery and he bled out.”

“I got an Uber up to Primrose Hill There was a police cordon and I could not get through. When I explained who I was, an officer said they were going to get someone from CID to speak to me. He said, ‘I am sorry, your son is dead’,” the 65-year-old told The Times. 

The Metropolitan Police later identified Mr Ogunyankinnu as the alleged ‘stabber’ and arrested him on Friday. He was charged with murder on Sunday before his arraignment at the Stratford Magistrates’ Court in East London on Monday. 

During the hearing, reports said the 27-year-old defendant fiercely opposed the murder charge, stating that “I didn’t kill anybody. I didn’t stab anybody. Police got the wrong person.” 

He was eventually remanded in custody and will at the next hearing appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday. Mr Sullivan, described as ‘lovely,’ was studying at the London Screen Academy at the time of his death. 

Following in the footsteps of his famed New Zealander cinematographer grandfather Michael Seresin, the deceased was also into video production under the trade name ‘Sully Shot It.’ 

Popular British musician George Alan O’Dowd, professionally known as Boy George, also identified the victim as his friend’s child, adding that he was devastated by the news. 

“It’s my friend Chris Sullivan’s boy. Devastated by the news. I hope Chris is with people who can support him through this. It’s the saddest news ever. I love Chris. Known him since the late 70s,” Mr O’Dowd stated. 

Photos credit: Daily Mail