A New South Wales Supreme Court jury has found Prince Fahnbulleh, 27, guilty of murdering Yohana Angok, bringing an end to a high-profile trial that centred on a fatal stabbing in Sydney's west.
The verdict was delivered after jurors deliberated for approximately one hour, rejecting Fahnbulleh's argument that he had acted in self-defence when he killed the 25-year-old in June 2023.
During the 10-day trial, prosecutors alleged Fahnbulleh acted out of jealousy after discovering his former partner, Janika Bevin, in bed with Angok at her St Clair apartment.
The court heard that Fahnbulleh had arranged to collect belongings from Bevin's home. However, despite clothing being left outside for him to retrieve, he allegedly ignored the items, entered the property uninvited by climbing over a side fence and making his way upstairs into the apartment.
According to the Crown case, Fahnbulleh became enraged after finding the pair together and retrieved a knife from the kitchen before fatally stabbing Angok in the heart.
Following the attack, Fahnbulleh fled the apartment through an upstairs window and entered a vehicle driven by his friend, Adrian Shillingsworth.
During the trial, Shillingsworth told jurors he saw Fahnbulleh covered in blood when he returned to the car.
"I saw him covered in blood," Shillingsworth testified.
"He just told me to drive."
Prosecutors also presented evidence of threatening messages Fahnbulleh had allegedly sent to Angok in the days leading up to the stabbing. The court heard that the accused had sent messages stating, "I'll find you sooner or later" and allegedly shared a photograph of himself holding a handgun. Another message reportedly read, "I'm not going to stop till you get shot in your head."
Fahnbulleh's defence team argued that Angok had been armed with a knife and that the fatal confrontation occurred while Fahnbulleh was attempting to defend himself. Defence barrister Scott Fraser SC urged the jury to consider whether Angok's actions could have been influenced by the threatening messages he had previously received.
However, Crown prosecutors dismissed the self-defence argument, describing it as inconsistent with the evidence presented during the trial. Prosecutor Mark Hay told the court that Angok had not been waiting for a confrontation and was simply asleep in bed before the incident unfolded.
After considering the evidence, jurors unanimously found Fahnbulleh guilty of murder.
The conviction brings some closure to Angok's family and friends, who have waited nearly three years for the case to be resolved through the courts.
Fahnbulleh remains in custody and is expected to return to court at a later date for sentencing, where the judge will determine the appropriate penalty for the offence.
The case has highlighted the devastating consequences of domestic conflict and jealousy, while also underscoring the significant role played by witness testimony and digital evidence in modern criminal investigations.
