Michael Fadayomi was knifed to death by Marcus Griffiths after the murderer attacked the popular football coaches son following a confrontation on a bus in Willesden

A dad was stabbed from behind and died after he stepped in to protect his son from a knifeman.

Michael Fadayomi’s 15-year-old boy and his friend boarded a bus shortly after 5pm this year.

They sat close to Marcus Griffiths, 42, of Hoveden Road, Willesden, North West London, My London reported.

CCTV footage and witness statements taken by police revealed that within moments Griffiths became aggressive towards the pair without any reason.

At the next stop, Willesden Bus Garage, all three got off the bus.

The two boys stood by the bus stop and Griffiths approached them, took out his knife and began to attack Mr Fadayomi’s son with it.

The boy swerved two blows aimed at his head before he ran away and called his dad.

Mr Fadayomi, who was a popular football coach, rushed to the scene and got onto the bus, heading to the top deck where Griffiths had sat back down.

The two men proceeded to exchange strong words before Mr Fadayomi, 40, turned and walked off the bus and down the road.

Griffiths followed him off the bus and attacked him from behind, repeatedly stabbing him.

One of the blows hit Mr Fadayomi in the neck, severing an artery and causing fatal blood loss to him.

Mr Fadayomi’s teenage son tried to intervene as his dad was stabbed in front of him.

Police and emergency services were called at approximately 5:11 pm, but despite their best efforts, Mr Fadayomi was pronounced dead at the scene shortly afterwards.

Griffiths was arrested later the same day at his home address and denied any knowledge of the incident, going on to provide a ‘no comment’ interview.

During the murder trial, Griffiths argued that he was acting in self-defence when he killed Mr Fadayomi.

According to a witness who sat close to him on the bus, Griffiths was overhead to say “I’m going to kill someone today”.

Following his murder, tributes poured in for Mr Fadayomi, described by people who knew him as a “pillar of the community”.

Vanessa, a neighbour, said: “He was the most humble guy I have ever known.

“He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

This week Griffiths was convicted of murder following a trial that lasted two weeks at Harrow Crown Court.

He was also found guilty of of attempting to murder his son and for possession of a knife in a public place.

Griffiths will be sentenced at a later date.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Rebecca Corser said: “This is a tragic case in which a man has lost his life for absolutely no reason at all.

“For a reason known only to himself, Marcus Griffiths was intent on causing serious harm to someone that day.

“Michael Fadayomi’s son and his friend had the misfortune to sit near him on the bus and he then turned his aggression towards them.

“After his son narrowly avoided being killed himself, Michael came to the scene and confronted Griffiths about his behaviour.

“Michael was not armed himself and did not show any physical aggression towards Griffiths.

“In a cowardly attack, Griffiths stabbed him from behind as he was walking away from the bus.

“I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to the Fadayomi family. Nothing can be done to bring back a much-loved father, however I am glad the jury has seen through Griffiths’s lies and he will now spend a long time in jail.”