1 month ago
Anita Mukhey, a 66-year-old Indian-origin grandmother, was stabbed to death by 22-year-old Jalal Debella at a bus stop in northwest London. The attacker appeared in court via video link from his prison and was charged with murder. Mukhey, a part-time medical secretary, was attacked without provocation.
Anita Mukhey, a 66-year-old Indian-origin grandmother and part-time medical secretary, was waiting at the bus stop in London when she was stabbed to death. (Photo: Instagram)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Aug 7, 2024 14:30 IST
A 22-year-old man accused of randomly attacking and killing a 66-year-old Indian-origin grandmother while she waited for a bus in northwest London appeared in court through video link. Jalal Debella, 22, has been charged with the murder of Anita Mukhey, a medical secretary, who was stabbed to death at a bus stop on May 9. Prosecutor Philip McGhee described the attack as "entirely random and unprovoked".
Debella appeared at the Old Bailey via video link on August 6 from His Majesty's Prison Belmarsh, a Category A men's prison in Thamesmead, southeast London, facing charges of murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth during the brief hearing.
Proceedings were adjourned due to an incomplete psychiatric assessment, reported the Daily Mail.
Anita Mukhey, who worked part-time for the Health Service (NHS) as a medical secretary, was waiting at the Burnt Oak Broadway bus stop in the Edgware area of London on May 9 when Jalal Debella stabbed her in the chest and neck.
Mukhey succumbed to her injuries on the spot.
Prosecutor McGhee explained that Debella initially walked past Mukhey, sat on a nearby bench, and then approached her at the bus stop.
"There appeared to be some form of exchange between them where the defendant said something which caused Ms Mukhey to look at him," McGhee stated. "He then assaulted her by slapping her forcibly in the face several times, then punching her."
ATTACKER HELD GRANDMOTHER LIKE A RAG DOLL
An eyewitness described the scene, saying Debella was "holding her like a rag doll shaking her about".
After slapping and punching her, Debella pulled out a knife and stabbed Mukhey multiple times. Mukhey managed to move a short distance before collapsing in the road.
Bystanders attempted to assist her, but she did not survive.
The preliminary cause of death was determined to be multiple sharp force injuries.
Debella was arrested in the nearby Colindale area on the same day as the attack.
He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court again on November 6. "This was a shocking and senseless attack on an innocent woman," McGhee said.
The case continues as the court awaits further psychiatric evaluation of the accused.
Published By:
Girish Kumar Anshul
Published On:
Aug 7, 2024
