Three teenagers have been cleared of murdering a teaching assistant.

Fitness instructor at Leyton Leisure Lagoon and teaching assistant at Chingford’s Heathcote School, 28-year-old Michael Adegbite, died on July 19 last year after being stabbed in the chest.

Montel Ajayi of Fowley Close, Waltham Cross, Isacc Owen-Brady, of Blossom Lane, Enfield and Christopher Nzeh, of Spring Way, Hitchin, were all charged with murder and conspiracy to rob.

In a trial that started last month, they pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Adegbite and carrying a knife in a public place.

Though they did admit conspiracy to commit robbery.

The three 18-year-olds were cleared of murder at the Old Bailey at the conclusion of their trial on Friday (February 5).

Mr Adegbite, of Friday Hill West, Chingford, had travelled to Enfield on July 19 with a friend to sell his Apple Macbook laptop he had advertised on Gumtree.

He was stabbed shortly before 7pm in Lackmore Road and died at the roadside 30 minutes later.

Mr Adegbite had recently signed a contract with a modelling agency and graduated from the University of East London in 2010.

He was a coach at Eastside United FC and also worked as a part-time personal trainer.

On Friday, Nzeh was convicted of manslaughter and Owen-Brady was also convicted of possessing a folding knife.

They will be sentenced at a later date at the Old Bailey.