Man jailed for murder of 'talented footballer'

Oguzcan Dereli, 27, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years for murdering 20-year-old footballer Abdul-Latif Pouget in Clerkenwell, London. The fatal incident occurred on October 18, 2024, when Dereli stabbed Pouget in the thigh with a machete after exiting his vehicle. The injury led to massive blood loss, and despite efforts by paramedics, Pouget died three days later in the hospital. Judge Sarah Whitehouse KC noted Dereli's prior convictions and his attempts to evade capture as aggravating factors in the case. Family members of Pouget described him as a "talented and gifted footballer" and expressed their deep sorrow, stating that the loss felt like a wound that would never heal.

Prosecutor Danny Robinson KC revealed that the attack lasted less than 15 seconds and was captured on CCTV. Dereli's defense argued he acted in self-defense over a monetary dispute, but the court rejected this claim. The machete used in the attack was never recovered, but evidence included a dropped phone and the CCTV footage of the stabbing.