Teenager found guilty of murdering drug dealer

A teenage boy has been found guilty of murdering a drug dealer, who he robbed at knifepoint with another boy.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, fatally stabbed Hamid Erfani, 46, in a Cheltenham alleyway on 16 December 2025, after allegedly taking cash, drugs and a mobile phone off him.

He was found guilty by a jury at Bristol Crown Court earlier.

The boy, who was 15 at the time of the attack, denied murdering Erfani and claimed he acted in self-defence.

The 16-year-old and a second teenager previously admitted to robbing Erfani.

The court was previously shown CCTV footage of the defendant and the other boy arriving at the scene in Larput Place.

Erfani arrived by car shortly after, parked and walked into the alleyway.

Although the site of the attack was not covered by CCTV, Anna Vigars KC, prosecuting, told the jury witnesses saw that the pair "cornered" Erfani with large knives, to which he "unsurprisingly" did not resist.

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The boys took cash, drugs and Erfani's phone before the 16-year-old stabbed him in the chest.

During the trial, the Charles Rowe KC, defending, said the murder was "completely opportunistic".

The defence claimed Erfani "lunged" forward and the boy "instinctively" punched him, mistakenly using the hand holding the knife.

Vigars said the teenager's self-defence argument was a "non-starter" and added that the large knife was "not the kind of thing you forget you've got on you".

She added that there was no evidence to suggest Erfani knew the defendant, but it was likely the defendant knew Erfani was involved in dealing drugs and so "hatched a plan" to rob him.

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Teen claims drug dealer 'lunged' before fatal blow

Boy, 16, denies murdering drug dealer in alleyway