Jury Convicts Two Men in Brutal Mayfair Robbery of Designer’s £137k Watch
Two men have been convicted of robbing Romanian entrepreneur Catalin Botezatu of a £137,000 Richard Mille watch in a violent incident outside a Mayfair restaurant. The attackers cut the timepiece from Botezatu’s wrist with a sharp instrument, causing him physical injury. While the lead suspect pleaded guilty, the two convicted defendants claimed they were coerced or unaware of the plot, a defense rejected by the jury.
Key points
- Ali Eldahouzze (22) and Abdel El Habchi (30) were found guilty of robbery after a nine-day trial at Southwark Crown Court.
- The victim, Catalin Botezatu, was attacked just before midnight on January 28 outside the Amazonico restaurant in Berkeley Square.
- Prosecutors stated the robbers surrounded Botezatu and used a knife to cut through the watch’s rubber strap, leaving the victim with cuts on his wrists.
- Botezatu testified that he feared for his life due to prior cancer surgery and the presence of five stents in his body.
- The stolen watch, valued at £137,000, was a birthday gift from a deceased friend given to Botezatu approximately 13 years ago.
- Lead suspect Younes Djoudi pleaded guilty before the trial began; all three men are currently in custody awaiting sentencing on October 16.
Background
This incident highlights the vulnerability of high-profile individuals in London’s luxury districts. While previous archive coverage focused on fashion industry milestones and tragedies, such as the death of designer Stephany Hollihan or Sam Smith’s engagement to Christian Cowan, this case involves a violent property crime targeting a specific individual for a high-value item. The archive does not contain prior reporting on this specific robbery or the defendants involved.
How outlets are covering it
The BBC and AOL (which republished the BBC report) present the same factual narrative, emphasizing the physical violence and the victim’s medical vulnerabilities. The Independent’s metadata categorizes the event under property crime and robbery, aligning with the legal outcome. There are no conflicting reports among the sources; all agree on the conviction, the method of theft, and the victim’s testimony regarding the sentimental value of the watch. The defense claims of coercion by the lead robber were rejected by the jury, a point consistently reported across all outlets.
Why it matters
The case underscores the risks associated with displaying high-value luxury items in public spaces, even in secure areas like Mayfair. It also illustrates the legal consequences for those who claim coercion in violent crimes, as the jury rejected the defense that the convicted men were unaware of the robbery or acted under threat. The sentencing on October 16 will determine the final punishment for the perpetrators.
What to watch
Sentencing for Ali Eldahouzze, Abdel El Habchi, and Younes Djoudi is scheduled for October 16. The court will determine the appropriate penalties for the robbery and assault charges. No further developments regarding the recovery of the watch have been reported in the sources.
- Thieves who stole fashion designer's £137k watch convicted BBC
- Fashion designer ‘feared for his life’ after £137,000 watch cut from wrist in Mayfair robbery The Independent
- Mayfair watch-robbery defendant tells jury he was threatened with being set on fire London Daily News
- Alleged £137,000 Mayfair watch robber says ringleader threatened to ‘set me on fire' AOL.co.uk
- Two men convicted of £137k watch theft aol.com
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