A man who stabbed an accounting student to death on the railway tracks at Strawberry Hill station has been jailed for life.
Dino Donaldson, 21, of Caxton Road, Ealing, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, 6 November, following a trial. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 23 years before he can be considered for release.
Donaldson had been found guilty of murder on 14 April.
The 21-year-old was among four young men who arrived at Strawberry Hill station shortly after 10pm on 8 January 2024, to complete a drug deal. Jurors heard the £50 deal had been previously arranged in exchange for 10 MDMA tablets.
Anojan Gnaneswaran arrived at the station around an hour later and an argument broke out, prompting him to call his brother, who was accompanied to the station by two others.
The argument continued on the station platform before an increasingly aggressive Donaldson pulled a long knife out of his waistband. A chase ensued, and Donaldson caught up to Anojan on the railway tracks before stabbing him in the chest, abdomen and thigh.
Donaldson fled the scene, leaving Anojan’s brother to call 999 and begin CPR. Anojan’s injuries were so severe that he died at the scene.
Donaldson’s movements were tracked using CCTV as he fled through Twickenham to Kingston upon Thames. He boarded the N87 night bus, where onboard cameras captured him laughing and smiling less than an hour after the fatal stabbing.
A search team from the British Transport Police discovered a knife and a black glove in a tree at the scene. Donaldson was found hiding in a cupboard at his home days later, on 11 January 2024, during an arrest warrant.
What the detective said
DCI Paul Attwell, of the British Transport Police, said: “What started as an argument over a drug deal ended in a young man’s future being stolen from him by a remorseless criminal.”
“Donaldson showed his true colours as a coward by arming himself with a knife that night. His cowardice has continued by never accepting responsibility and admitting his crime – thankfully the jury saw through his lies.”
“He will live the rest of his life knowing he has taken someone else’s, and he deserves every minute of his 23-year minimum sentence.”
He added: “Anojan’s family have been left with an unfillable void in their lives after their talented son and brother was taken from them in the most brutal circumstances imaginable. I want to pay tribute to them all, for the strength, dignity and patience they’ve shown throughout this case.”
What a life sentence means
A life sentence does not automatically mean the offender will spend the rest of their life in prison. The judge sets a minimum term — in this case 23 years — which is the earliest point at which the offender can be considered for release by the Parole Board.
Even if released after the minimum term, a person serving a life sentence remains on licence for the rest of their life and can be recalled to prison at any time if they breach the conditions of their release.
