Enfield murder: Man killed teenager then hid his body in loft for eight months

Seventeen-year-old’s body found after father nicknamed 'The Magician' let slip what happened to friends

Gary Hopkins, 37, has been convicted of murdering 17-year-old Abdi Ali at his flat in Enfield, north London, on 21 December 2017. (Metropolitan Police)

A father nicknamed "The Magician" who murdered a teenager at his home and then hid his body in the loft for eight months is facing life behind bars.

Gary Hopkins, 37, bludgeoned and stabbed 17-year-old Abdi Ali to death at the home he shared with his partner and their three children in Enfield, north London, on 21 December, 2017.

On the day of the murder, Mr Ali was asleep on the sofa at Hopkins’ home, where police say he often stayed because he was homeless and would sell drugs in return as a mutual arrangement.

Hopkins hit Mr Ali, who was linked to the Get Money Gang, over the head with a claw hammer and stabbed him in the heart with a 16cm knife.

He then wrapped his body in a duvet cover and black bags before hiding it in the loft with the murder weapons.

Hopkins also stole £400 from the teenager to give his own family a good Christmas and took them to Leominster, in Herefordshire, to lay low.

Mr Ali was reported missing by his family on 31 December, 2017, after he was last seen by them at his sister’s wedding on 11 December.

His body was eventually found in August 2018 after Hopkins let slip about what had happened to friends who visited the flat.

Hopkins, who was known for performing magic tricks and was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking in 1999, had threatened to kill another drug dealer saying: “I’ve done it before. He’s in the loft.”

A jury at the Old Bailey heard how his partner Stacy Docherty, 28, wept as he got a ladder and encouraged the friends to look for themselves.

One friend later reported what had happened at a police station.

When officers searched the roof space, they found Mr Ali’s body wrapped in a black and red duvet cover with plastic bags over his head.

In her evidence, Ms Docherty said her “controlling” and “aggressive” partner had killed “respectful” Mr Ali, who used their flat to sell drugs.

Ms Docherty, whose previous convictions include assault and criminal damage, said she “froze” and was “petrified” when Hopkins told her he “lost it” and they had to leave.

Explaining why she helped Hopkins push the body into the loft, she said: “He could have hurt me. He had just killed someone. He’s a loose cannon.”

Mr Ali was described by his sister Kowsar as a “very respectful, helpful son” who was particularly close to his late grandmother.

Speaking outside court on behalf of Mr Ali’s mother Iisha, she said: “I am aware that Abdi had trouble with police before but as a family we were hoping that he would change since he was still very young. However, he does not have that opportunity now.

“As a mother, to lose one of your children is the hardest thing ever and very painful.

“It is also very painful when you are told that your son’s body was found very close to your home address and you could not help him when he was being murdered, in the way he was, and when at the same time you used to look for him in that same area.

“As a family we miss Abdi very much and I cannot understand why he [Hopkins] did what he did to Abdi.”

Hopkins was found guilty of murder by a jury after 16 hours of deliberations.

He had also admitted perverting the course of justice and preventing the lawful burial of a body and will be sentenced on 26 April.

The jury cleared Ms Docherty of murder but was unable to reach verdicts on the two other charges.

The prosecution was given seven days to decide on whether to seek a retrial for Ms Docherty.