A man has been found guilty of murdering Derek McAllister over a minor argument in an East Finchley bookmaker’s in 2015.

Ham & High: Derek McAllister.Derek McAllister. (Image: Archant)

Joseph Tripp, 35, of Sylvester Road, Finchley, was convicted at the Old Bailey today over the stabbing on the afternoon of December 30.

The court heard he knifed 55-year-old Derek in the abdomen with an 8in carving knife he bought from a hardware store 10 minutes after their dispute.

CCTV cameras caught Tripp unwrapping the knife at a bus stop whilst he watched Derek, who was standing across the road.

He then crossed the road, using the traffic to hide. He ran towards Derek and stabbed him in the back before running away.

Ham & High: Tripp hiding by a bus stop outside the shop.Tripp hiding by a bus stop outside the shop. (Image: Archant)

Derek was taken to hospital by a passer-by but died two weeks later.

Tripp was charged after his fingerprints were found on the knife packaging.

Speaking after the verdict, Derek’s daughter Collette said: “It has been a long haul, but justice has prevailed and we’ve finally got the result that my father deserved.

“We will never come to terms with losing our father in this way, but we finally have some closure now. I would like to thank the police, the prosecution team and my family for helping us through this tough two-and-a-half years.”

Det Sgt Bryan Field, of the Met’s homicide command, said: “This has been a long and hard wait for justice for Derek McAllister’s family but I am happy with today’s result.

“I would like to thank the local community for all their help both on the day of the attack but also with their continued help and support in securing evidence and identifying witnesses in this case.”