Men sentenced following the death of Bereket Selomun in Stevenage

Men sentenced following the death of Bereket Selomun in Stevenage
Three men have been sentenced in connection with the murder of Bereket Selomun in Stevenage.

Bereket, aged 20, was sadly found dead shortly before 7.30am on Thursday 7 July 2022 in woodland off Brittain Way, adjourning Fairlands Valley Park.

He had suffered multiple stab wounds.

At St Albans Crown Court today (Friday 22 March), three men, who were all known to the victim, were sentenced in connection with his death.

• Jelani Omar, aged 25, of Plash Drive, Stevenage, was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment having previously been found guilty of murder following a trial in March 2023.

• Malake Fiseha, aged 25, of Manor View, Stevenage was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment having previously been found guilty of manslaughter.

• Natneal Hadgu, aged 20, of Ripon Road, Stevenage was sentenced to 9 years having previously been found guilty of manslaughter.

In addition a fourth man, Robel Msgane, aged 25, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment having previously been found guilty of assisting an offender.

Detective Inspector Iain MacPherson, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “While nothing will make up for the tragic loss of Bereket, who died following a dispute with people he knew, I hope that these sentences provide some sense of comfort to his family and my thoughts remain with them.”

Following the trial in March 2023, Bereket’s brother Michale Solomun paid tribute to his sibling. He said: “No words could ever explain or put into context how we have felt since Bereket was taken from us in such horrific circumstances.

“He fled Eritrea in the hopes of living a safer and better life in the UK, only to have his life brutally cut short.

“Bereket was a gregarious, courteous, altruistic, generous, hard-working, and peace-loving young man. His ambition was to study Business Management and go on to run his own business one day. This choice has been taken from him.

“Bereket’s death has left a void in our family that cannot be repaired.”

• Jelani Omar, aged 25, of Plash Drive, Stevenage, was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment having previously been found guilty of murder following a trial in March 2023.

Malake Fiseha, aged 25, of Manor View, Stevenage was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment having previously been found guilty of manslaughter.

Natneal Hadgu, aged 20, of Ripon Road, Stevenage was sentenced to 9 years having previously been found guilty of manslaughter.

Robel Msgane, aged 25, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment having previously been found guilty of assisting an offender.