Vigilance can confirm that today, Monday 4 April at the Old Bailey, a father and son have been jailed for life for the murder of a man they attacked following an argument at a party.
Jose Roberto Aburto (13.03.66) of no fixed address and Roberto Andre Rojas Aburto (07.02.85) of no fixed address killed 33-year-old Gabriel Morales on 9 March 2008 at an address in Raeburn Street, SW2.
According to a police statement today they were both sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years.
The pair were convicted at the Old Bailey on Friday, 1 April.
Details of the Case as released by the police:
On the afternoon of Saturday, 8 March 2008, Aburto senior and junior were at a BBQ party being held at an address in Raeburn Street.
At the party the men became involved in an argument with Gabriel Morales who lived at the address. The fight became physical and punches were thrown.
As a result, father and son were asked to leave the BBQ and did so reluctantly, remaining outside for some time, challenging Gabriel to come outside and fight with them.
Eventually the men gave up and left, however the fight spoiled the party and it came to an end soon after.
Later that evening Gabriel Morales received a number of calls from Jose Aburto, threatening to kill him. He told his girlfriend and sister-in-law about the calls and said he was scared.
At about 04:00hrs on Sunday, 9 March, the Arburto’s returned to Raeburn Street. They forced their way into the house and went up to the bedroom where Gabriel Morales was sleeping with his girlfriend.
They stabbed him to death, causing numerous wounds to his body and defence wounds to his hands.
After committing the murder they wasted no time in returning to their address in Walworth before leaving the UK on a ferry.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC) launched a manhunt to find the pair which led them across Europe.
On 11 June 2010, Jose was extradited to the UK from Italy and Roberto from Germany.
Investigating officer, Detective Inspector Dave Willis, HSCC, said: “I am pleased that today justice has been served for Gabriel and his family and friends.
“Jose and Roberto Aburto committed a vicious and violent murder. Following a fairly trivial fight at a BBQ they returned in the early hours and killed Gabriel Morales. They then set about trying to evade justice by fleeing the country.
DI Willis reiterates the resolve of the MPS: “The Metropolitan Police Service will never stop in their efforts to locate and extradite offenders to face justice in the UK. I wholeheartedly thank the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, The Chilean, Italian and German police for their assistance in this case. Without their assistance the men would not have been brought back to face justice today.”