Tashan Daniel murder: Brighton stabber Alex Lanning loses appeal

Alex Lanning, 23, was convicted of the murder of Tashan Daniel, 20, in London.

Mr Daniel was on his way to watch Arsenal but was attacked by Lanning and his pal Jonathan Camille, 20, at Hillingdon Underground Station in September 2019.

Lanning was out of prison on licence for a previous stabbing in Brighton when he committed the murder.

Witnesses described seeing Lanning smiling as he ran from the scene.

A jury at the Old Bailey found him guilty of murder last year and he was jailed for life.

Undated handout photo issued by British Transport Police of Alex Lanning, 22, who has been jailed at the Old Bailey for life with a minimum term of 25 years for the murder of talented athlete Tashan Daniel, who was stabbed at Hillingdon station, west

Camille was sentenced to six years and six months’ detention in a young offenders institute for manslaughter.

The jury heard how the duo showed “no remorse or empathy”.

Mr Daniel was attacked with an army knife designed for NATO military rescues, which killer Lanning claimed came from the set of the Fast & Furious.

Undated handout photo issued by British Transport Police of a knife relating to the murder of Tashan Daniel, 20. The father of the talented athlete stabbed to death on his way to a watch a football match has condemned the "senseless, needless,

Lanning had lost his temper over a “look” across the platform from Mr Daniel, and went with Camille to attack him and Mr Daniel’s friend Treyone Campbell.

The attack lasted 34 seconds from “the first blow to the last act of violence”, appeal judges heard.

Mr Campbell suggested that the incident began when Lanning asked them “What you looking at?”

Alex Lanning (wearing a cap) on his way to Tashan Daniel (in an Arsenal top) at Hillingdon station. Credit: BTP

Appeal judges said the four men had faced each other, a fight had started, Lanning produced a knife and Mr Daniel received a fatal injury.

Judges said the knife was capable of sawing through the laminated glass of aircraft.

Mr Daniel was a talented athlete at Hillingdon Athletics Club.

Undated family handout photo of Tashan Daniel. Alex Lanning, 22, has been jailed at the Old Bailey for life with a minimum term of 25 years for the murder of the talented athlete, who was stabbed at Hillingdon station, west London, last September on his

His father Chandy Daniel, 59, said his son was a "fantastic human being" with "so much potential and so much to give".

The talented 20-year-old "wanted to make the Olympics" and "set his standards high".

Lanning, who is from Hillingdon, was jailed in 2016 for unlawful wounding and possession of class A drugs in the form of 250 wraps of heroin at Regency Square in Brighton.

BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE..Handout CCTV image dated 24/09/19 issued by British Transport Police of Jonathan Camille, 19, from Fulham, and Alex Lanning, 22, from Hillingdon, on the day of the murder of Tashan Daniel, 20. The father of the talented athlete

Appeal judges Lord Justice Fulford, Mr Justice Holgate and Sir Nicholas Blake, published a written ruling on Tuesday after a hearing earlier this year.

Alex Lanning and Jonathan Camille. Credit: British Transport Police

Lawyers representing Lanning said the trial judge had wrongly admitted evidence of Lanning’s previous convictions. That argument was supported by lawyers representing Camille.

Appeal judges said they were “unpersuaded”.