A YOUNG father was sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday (July 13) after stabbing to death a grandfather in a Leyton cafe.

Matthew Quesada, 26, of no fixed address, was jailed for life, and will serve a minimum of 26 years for the murder of 63-year-old Alan Smith.

Mr Smith of Hibbert Road, Walthamstow, was stabbed five times in Roma Cafe in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, in March last year.

Mr Smith, had asked Quesada whether his three-year-old daughter, who was crying, was "all right" while they were both in the BB cafe nearby.

But Quesada took offence and verbally abused Mr Smith and was seen making a call on his mobile outside before walking away.

Mr Smith then went to the Roma Cafe across the road before Quesada reappeared moments later and stabbed him.

Quesada was found guilty at the Old Bailey on June 15 of killing Mr Smith during the frenzied attack.

Quesada's girlfriend, Maria Bridgette, 26, of Hibbert Road, Walthamstow, was found guilty of assisting an offender.

She was given a nine-month suspended jail sentence and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.

Quesada's mother, Victoria Passley-Quesada, 54, of Lower Barn Road, Purley, Surrey, was cleared of the same offence.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Steve Meechan, of Homicide and Serious Crime Command, welcomed the sentences.

He said: "Alan Smith was a well-meaning man who simply wanted to enquire about a distressed child. He paid for his concerns with his life."

Mr Smith's family released the following statement after the sentencing: "Since March 26 2011 no words can express the devastation that this murder has had on our family, and all those who had the privilege to know Alan.

"He was a wonderful partner, father and grandfather, who was kind, caring and would do anything for anyone.

"Alan was cruelly taken from us in front of his family whilst celebrating his daughter's birthday.

"We would like to say thank you to the medical staff who gave their utmost to try and save Alan's life, the police who investigated his death and our legal team.

"As a family we will try to continue with our day to day lives; but we fear that we will never fully come to terms with our tragic loss."

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