Family of Stabbed Father Calls for Tougher Knife Crime Sentences After Killer Receives 14-Year Term

The family of Ibrahim Bah, a ‘loving father’ who was tragically stabbed to death during a night out in London, is calling for stricter penalties for knife-related crimes after the man who “destroyed” their family was sentenced to just 14 years in prison for manslaughter.

Ibrahim Bah, a 35-year-old rail worker from Shooter’s Hill, South East London, was killed by David Joseph Johnson, then 37, after a fight broke out outside Belushi’s bar in Greenwich in the early hours of May 1, 2022. CCTV footage captured the moment when Johnson pulled a knife from his waistband, slashed another man, and then fatally stabbed Ibrahim in the stomach before walking away from the scene, told My London.

Ibrahim, who witnesses say was trying to break up the fight, collapsed on the pavement and died en route to the hospital, just before his mother, Kadijatu Bah, arrived. Speaking publicly for the first time about the tragedy, Kadijatu expressed the profound impact Ibrahim’s death has had on the family, particularly on his four-year-old son, Kaylum, who was recently diagnosed with autism and has “stopped talking” since losing his father.

David Joseph Johnson was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with an additional 17 years on extended license, after being found guilty of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm in February 2023. However, Kadijatu feels the sentence is insufficient and fears for the safety of her grandson and Ibrahim’s partner, Precious, who might one day encounter Johnson again.

In August, Ibrahim’s sister, Salamata Bah, launched a petition on Change.org demanding “stricter laws” against knife crimes. Precious, who struggles to discuss the events, highlighted the ongoing grief, saying, “People just don’t understand what knife crime does to a family… I’ve got a child with him, I’ve got half of him.”

Kadijatu expressed her frustration with the justice system, stating, “Johnson will get out of prison one day, but I will never see my son again. People think it just affects one person, but by stabbing someone you have destroyed a whole family.”

Reflecting on the incident, she added, “Giving somebody 14 years in prison, what is 14 years? Is that enough?” She emphasized that stricter laws could potentially deter future knife crimes, urging the government to take stronger action.

The Labour Government has pledged to address the rising knife crime issue, with plans to introduce the Offensive Weapons Act, which will include a ban on zombie-style knives and machetes. However, for Ibrahim’s family, the pain of their loss remains, and they continue to advocate for justice in his memory. The family’s petition for tougher knife crime laws can be found on Change.org.