A shocking incident has left a 66-year-old woman dead after a brutal stabbing attack in broad daylight on the streets of north London. Eyewitnesses have recounted the harrowing scenes as a 22-year-old man, described as a “gore video fanatic”, allegedly carried out the vicious assault.
The attack occurred just shortly before midday on Edgware Road, where Anita Mukhey was waiting for a bus. Witness Stefan Dennis said he heard “screaming and shouting” and saw Mukhey “drop to the floor”. Despite the efforts of members of the public and emergency services, Mukhey tragically died at the scene.
The accused, Jala Debella, is said to have received a hunting knife through the post just an hour before the incident. Witnesses claim they saw Debella, who is currently too unwell to attend the hearing, calmly “sauntering away” from the scene after the attack.
Another witness, Nicole Rosa, became emotional as she recounted seeing a man “pulling and punching” a woman, before realising he was actually stabbing her. Rosa noted that the knife had a “red line” on it, indicating the severity of the attack.
Prosecutors allege that Debella had ordered the hunting knife online just three days prior to the killing. The identical weapon was later recovered from a bin where the defendant was seen disposing of something.
Due to Debella’s apparent mental health issues, the case is being heard as a “trial of the facts” rather than a standard criminal trial. This means the focus is on determining whether Debella physically carried out the alleged acts, rather than his state of mind at the time.
The hearing is ongoing, and the jury will ultimately decide whether the prosecution has proven that Debella committed the offence, even though he cannot be convicted. The outcome could result in various treatment orders designed to protect the public.
This tragic incident has left the local community in shock and mourning the loss of Anita Mukhey. As the case continues, questions remain about the circumstances that led to this horrific attack and the wider issues surrounding mental health and public safety.
