Dawit Asmalash jailed for murdering Haileab Tadesse
6 March 2012 Last updated at 13:32 GMT
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* Asylum seeker murder man charged
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A man has been jailed for life for stabbing an asylum seeker to death in a
drunken row in Middlesbrough.
Dawit Asmalash, 31, had denied the murder of Haileab Tadesse, 35, but was
found unanimously guilty by a jury at Teesside Crown Court.
Mr Tadesse of Eritrea, in East Africa, was found at a house in Palm Street
on 4 April 2011. He had been stabbed through the heart.
Asmalash, of no fixed address, must serve a minimum of 15 years.
A statement from Cleveland Police said: "The death of the man known as Mr
Tadesse followed a drunken argument between him and Dawit Asmalash.
"Dawit Asmalash responded to this by taking a knife and stabbing Mr Tadesse
twice.
'Dignity and respect'
"There was no excuse for this violence and the jury has seen through Dawit
Asmalash and his attempt to justify his actions.
"Dawit Asmalash has consistently refused to accept responsibility for his
actions on that night but today he must face up to the consequences of his
violent attack on Mr Tadesse."
Police said Mr Tadesse had been granted asylum to remain in the UK until
2016.
Officers from the Cleveland force thanked members of the Eritrean and
Ethiopian community for helping them during the inquiry.
The statement added: "The investigation team has come to know many of the
Eritreans and Ethiopians living in Middlesbrough and we have seen a culture
of deeply religious people that believe strongly in dignity and respect for
others.
"Dawit Asmalash is not representative of this culture.
"The Eritrean and Ethiopian communities have stood up to Dawit Asmalash by
attending court to give evidence against him and I would strongly urge
people not to judge a community on the actions of one individual."
Haileab Tadesse. Photo: Cleveland PoliceMr Tadesse was stabbed through the
heart
Dawit Asmalash Asmalash must serve at least 15 years for the stab murder
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