Southall Drug Dealer Found Guilty of Murder

Dino Donaldson stabbed student to death on railway tracks

Left: Dino Donaldson. Right Strawberry Hill station. Picture: BTP

A 21-year-old man from Southall has been found guilty of murdering an accounting student who was stabbed to death on the tracks at Strawberry Hill station following a late-night confrontation over a drug deal.

Dino Donaldson, of Caxton Road, Southall, was convicted of murder at the Old Bailey on 14 April after a two-week trial. He will be sentenced on 19 June.

The court heard that the killing took place on the evening of 8 January 2024, when two groups of young men arranged to meet at the quiet station to exchange £50 for 10 MDMA tablets. Donaldson arrived shortly after 10pm with three others. The victim, 21-year-old Anojan Gnaneswaran, arrived an hour later.

A disagreement broke out between the two groups, prompting Anojan to call his brother, who arrived with two friends. The argument escalated on the platform, where witnesses described Donaldson becoming increasingly aggressive before pulling a long knife from his waistband.

He chased the group off the platform and onto the railway tracks, where he caught up with Anojan and stabbed him repeatedly in the chest, abdomen and thigh. Anojan’s brother dialled 999 and attempted CPR, but despite the efforts of paramedics, the young student died at the scene from catastrophic injuries.

British Transport Police launched an urgent investigation, tracing Donaldson’s movements through Twickenham and Kingston using station and street CCTV. Less than an hour after Anojan was pronounced dead, Donaldson was captured on the N87 night bus laughing and smiling, behaviour detectives described as “remorseless”.

 
Police described Donaldson's behaviour after the killing as 'remorseless'

A search of the murder scene uncovered the knife and a black glove hidden in a tree. Forensic testing found DNA from both Donaldson and Anojan on the items. Officers arrested Donaldson three days later after finding him hiding inside a cupboard at his home.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell of BTP said the killing was the result of a “petty argument over a drug deal” that ended with a young man losing his life. “Donaldson showed his true colours as a coward by arming himself with a knife that night,” he said. “His cowardice has continued by never accepting responsibility and admitting his crime – thankfully the jury saw through his lies.”

He added that while no verdict could compensate for the family’s loss, he hoped the conviction would bring “some sense of closure”.

In a tribute released through police, Anojan’s family described him as a “much-loved son and brother”. They said he was in his third year at university studying accounting and finance and was “so excited for his future”. A talented sportsman, he held a first-dan black belt in karate and had competed in both World and European championships.

Donaldson will return to the Old Bailey for sentencing in June.