A 19-year-old London man accused of fatally stabbing his best friend as the victim’s family watched was on Monday sentenced to 22 years in prison for the killing. According to New York Post, Romello Harley’s conviction came after he was found guilty of murder and possession of a bladed weapon.
The fatal June 2021 stabbing incident happened at the London home of the 19-year-old victim Tashawn Watt. Harley is said to have gotten into a heated argument with Watt’s brother. And after Watt was hit in the face, the victim and his brother asked their mother to inform Harley to leave their home, police said.
And though Harley ultimately left, surveillance footage showed the suspect coming back to the home with “apparent determination” some 15 minutes later. He also had a knife on him.
Police said Harley managed to convince Watts to come outside before he fatally stabbed him. The killing was also witnessed by the victim’s family.
During Harley’s trial, Watt’s mother Denise Campbell said her son was a “calm, kind character” who “would walk away from any confrontation.”
“My last memory of Tata [Tashawn] was him dying on the floor in front of me,” Campbell said.
“We showed Romello nothing but kindness and allowed him into our home as though he was one of our family members. I sometimes have questions which I know will never be answered,” the grieving mother added.
