On Air Now

Tom Hooper

3:00pm - 6:00pm

  • 01723 336444

Now Playing

Fugitive caught at Notting Hill Carnival sentenced for murdering ex-girlfriend's father

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 were not 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."

Williams claimed he acted in self-defence after the victim produced a knife and that he had wanted to talk to 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".

Read more from Sky News:
Protesters clash with police outside 'asylum hotel'

Teacher praises brave pupils after fatal coach crash

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."

Sky News

(c) Sky News 2025: Fugitive caught at Notting Hill Carnival sentenced for murdering ex-girlfriend's fathe

Did you find this article useful?

This is the Coast is committed to providing a daily local news service for the Yorkshire Coast. We are a small locally owned and operated business which employs professional journalists and reporters. We do not receive any public funding or grants and we are entirely funded by our local commercial operations. We enjoy fabulous support from local businesses who work with us on their advertising and marketing campaigns, but the cost of providing high quality, well researched, fact checked local news coverage is significant.

If you appreciate what This is the Coast does, and would like to help support our journalism, please consider supporting us on a monthly basis today.

A small contribution from all our readers would really help support independent journalism for the Yorkshire Coast.

More from Top Stories

Follow Us

Get Our Apps

Our Apps are now available for iOS, Android and Smart Speakers.

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play
  • Just ask Amazon Alexa
  • Available on Roku

Today's Weather

  • Scarborough

    Medium-level cloud

    High: 22°C | Low: 15°C

  • Filey

    Light rain

    High: 22°C | Low: 15°C

  • Whitby

    Thunder storm

    High: 23°C | Low: 15°C

  • Bridlington

    Medium-level cloud

    High: 22°C | Low: 16°C

  • Hornsea

    Light rain shower

    High: 23°C | Low: 16°C

  • Driffield

    Thundery shower

    High: 24°C | Low: 16°C

News