Oliwier Gabis, a 20-year-old knife-obsessed B20 gangster, has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for perverting the course of justice after helping his murderer friend Oumar Traore evade police and kicking the memorial of the teenage victim, Yassin Alama.
Details of the Crime
Gabis booked Ubers and arranged accommodation for Traore, 18, who had stabbed 19-year-old Yassin Alama to death on Hutton Road, Handsworth, on November 16 last year. The murder was carried out with a blue and black zombie knife during a street war between gangs dividing north Birmingham into postcode territories. Alama was affiliated with rival gangs in the Aston B6 postcode area.
The confrontation began when Traore confronted Alama's 14-year-old brother in a shop for mocking the deaths of B20 gangsters on Snapchat, including Traore's older cousin, 16-year-old Sekou Doucoure, who was stabbed to death in 2022. Gabis was also close to Doucoure and had a tattoo commemorating him.
Gabis's Role in Aiding Traore
Prosecutor Tim Hannam KC stated: "After Mr Traore had murdered Yassin Alama and after he had been taken to an address on Gordon Road, he made contact with Mr Gabis. Mr Gabis, as a result, took over arrangements for Mr Traore's onward transport and accommodation in order to prevent his arrest for murder."
Traore was driven away from Gordon Road at 11.15pm on November 16. The next afternoon, he met Gabis in Kings Heath, and CCTV captured them walking together near the Fighting Cocks pub in Moseley. Later that evening, Gabis searched online about Alama's killing and arranged for Traore to be sheltered at an address on School Road, Moseley, and then at a property in Fourth Avenue, Bordesley Green. Gabis messaged Traore to 'keep on the move'. Traore was arrested on November 23 from an address in Quinton Road.
Mocking the Victim's Memorial
On November 24, the day after Traore's arrest, Gabis posted videos mocking Alama's death and destroying his memorial on Hutton Road. One video included the caption: "Not on my block. Can't be doing no dead n***** memorial around here are you mad?" The second video showed him kicking flowers and candles at the site. When challenged online, Gabis replied: "The dead person tried to come to my block and try kill one of my mates. He can twist and turn in his grave as much as he wants."
Gabis's Criminal History
Gabis had multiple previous convictions for possessing knives, leading a judge to declare in 2024 that he was 'obsessed' with machete-type weapons, including zombie knives. He admitted perverting the course of justice and was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, July 3.
Defense barrister Simon Burch told the court Gabis had 'achieved well academically' in his GCSEs and aspired to be a football coach. He had gained qualifications in prison and would live with his parents upon release.
Judge's Sentencing Remarks
Judge Heidi Kubik KC concluded Gabis was 'entrenched in gang culture', demonstrated by three years of social media posts leading to Alama's death. She said: "The fact your offending was motivated by a desire to assist a fellow gang member evade justice for the murder of somebody associated with a rival gang is a significant aggravating feature. Again, no doubt linked with gang affiliation you have a significant history for a young man of offending in relation to possession of knives and machetes." The judge acknowledged Gabis's difficulties, including the death of his friend Sekou Doucoure, and noted he had a 'better side' to his character.
