Five people have been found guilty of being involved in the robbery and killing of a man following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Michael Fields, 50, Elsadig Abrahim, 61, Zayd Alasaly, 24, Sarah Kasseum, 41, and Dylan Blundell, 27, planned and carried out a robbery which resulted in Paul Foster’s death.

Mr Foster sold drugs from a property on Muirhead Avenue in the Clubmoor area of Liverpool.

In the early hours of 15 October 2024, just after 1.30am, Michael Fields drove the group to the address in a black Kia Ceed, parking around the corner on Maxwell Road.

All five defendants were involved in a plan to steal drugs and money from Mr Foster. The group were armed with an imitation firearm and Fields and Alasaly had a knife.

Sarah Kasseum knew Mr Foster and was used to gain access to the property, as the group believed he would recognise her. She used the buzzer, and Mr Foster looked out of the window and recognised her, instructing the woman who lived in the flat to let her in.

When nobody arrived, the woman went outside to check what was happening. As she made her way downstairs, she was confronted by four men dressed in black and wearing balaclavas. She ran back into the flat, screaming, but the men forced their way inside, demanding money and drugs.

During the robbery, Mr Foster was stabbed in the back and fatally injured.

The group fled the scene with cash, drugs and a mobile phone. Part of an air pistol, stained with blood, was recovered at the address. The knife used in the attack was never found.

When arrested, all five defendants initially denied involvement. At earlier hearings, Dylan Blundell admitted robbery, and Michael Fields admitted robbery and manslaughter. These pleas were not accepted.

All five were put on trial for murder, manslaughter, robbery, possession of a bladed article and possession of an imitation firearm.

On 18 May 2026, a jury at Liverpool Crown Court came to the following verdicts:

Michael Fields and Zayd Alasaly were found guilty of murder and possession of a bladed article.

The other defendants were found not guilty of these offences. All of the defendants but Zayd Alasaly were found guilty of manslaughter. All five defendants were found guilty of robbery and carrying an imitation firearm with criminal intent.

They will be sentenced on Thursday 21 May 2026.

James Allison, Specialist Prosecutor in the CPS Mersey‑Cheshire Complex Casework Unit, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service’s case was that each of the defendants played a key role in a planned robbery which resulted in the death of Paul Foster.

“Michael Fields drove the group to the scene, while Sarah Kasseum used her connection to Mr Foster to gain entry to the address.

“Thereafter, Michael Fields, Elsadig Abrahim, Zayd Alasaly and Dylan Blundell went inside armed with weapons to rob Paul Foster and, if it came to it, to inflict serious violence — and that is exactly what happened.

“The jury was sure that all five were aware of the nature of the plan and that their actions led directly to Mr Foster’s death.

“I would like to thank Merseyside Police for their work in this complex investigation. Our thoughts remain with Mr Foster’s family and friends.”