Vijaykumar Patel death: Boy, 16, guilty of killing shopkeeper

A 16-year-old boy has been found guilty of killing a shopkeeper who refused to sell him cigarette papers.

Vijaykumar Patel, 49, was fatally "smashed" in the face by the boy outside the minimarket where he worked in Mill Hill, north London.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, went into the shop on 6 January with two friends and tried to buy Rizla papers, but they were sent away for being under 18.

The boy was convicted of manslaughter.

Louis Mably, prosecuting, had told the court that the teenager became aggressive and shouted abuse before hurling himself at Mr Patel outside the store.

The boys were seen "laughing, joking and happy about what had taken place" as they fled the scene, the court previously heard.

The defendant, from Brent, north-west London, had claimed he was acting in self defence.

But after a week-long trial, a jury at the Old Bailey found him guilty.

He will be sentenced on 7 September.