A fugitive caught at Notting Hill Carnival after murdering his ex-girlfriend’s father has been sentenced to a minimum of 29 years in prison.
Kamar Williams stabbed bus driver Derek Thomas, 55, in Hackney, northeast London, on 30 July last year.
He escaped from police after crashing a hired BMW a few days later, but was captured at the carnival on 26 August.
Williams, from the Isle of Dogs in east London, was last week found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey.
Judge Angela Rafferty said he was “simmering with rage” on the night of the murder after arguing with his ex-partner Carron Thomas and her family.
“I am sure that in your frustration and anger, you planned to have a violent confrontation with one of the Thomas family that night,” the judge said at Friday’s sentencing.
The trial heard Ms Thomas had received threatening and abusive texts from Williams and called police twice in the hours before the stabbing.
Williams – who had earlier gone to Ms Thomas’s sister’s address – went to her father’s home looking for him or his daughter, but they weren’t in.
As he drove off, he spotted Mr Thomas on Stoke Newington Common at around 11pm. The bus driver had been to Tesco after finishing a shift.
Williams stopped his van and stabbed him five times, leaving the contents of the shopping bag strewn over the pavement and road.
“I am sure that you intended to kill Derek Thomas. This was a merciless and determined attack,” said Judge Rafferty.
“You killed him even though at one time you saw him as a father figure. You knew how important he was to his wife and his children as you had lived alongside them for two years.”
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Williams claimed he acted in self-defence after the victim produced a knife and that he had wanted to talk Mr Thomas about his relationship with his daughter.
Ms Thomas said her father was a “kind, gentle and loving man” who “did not deserve to have his life taken in such a senseless way”.
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A family statement added: “Derek will be greatly missed by his family and friends, he was a dedicated family man and worked hard to provide for them. He was the life and soul of the family.
“Derek was always on hand to provide support, knowledge, advice and was a calming influence when it was required.
“His passing has left a massive hole in the lives of his wife, children, grandchildren, family and all that knew him. He was greatly loved by all and will never be forgotten.”
