A 22-year-old man has been charged with random sexual assault. 66-year-old Indian-origin grandmother attacked and killed Jalal Debela, 22, appeared in court via video link while waiting for a bus in north-west London. Jalal Debela, 22, is charged with the murder of medical secretary Anita Mukhi, who was stabbed to death at a bus stop on May 9. Prosecutor Philip McGhee described the attack as “completely random and unprovoked”.
Debella appeared at the Old Bailey on August 6 via video link from Her Majesty’s Prison Belmarsh, a category A men’s prison in Thamesmead, south-east London, where he faces charges of murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
During the brief hearing he only confirmed his name and date of birth.
The proceedings were postponed due to an incomplete psychological evaluation, the Daily Mail reports.
Anita Mukhi, who worked part-time as a medical secretary in the National Health Service (NHS), was waiting for a bus at the Burnt Oak Broadway bus stop in the Edgware area of London on 9 May when Jalal Debela stabbed her in the chest and neck.
Mukhi died on the spot.
Prosecutor McGee said Debella first walked past Mukhi, sat on a nearby bench, and then approached him at the bus stop.
“It appears there was some sort of exchange between them in which the defendant said something that caused Ms. Mukhi to look at him,” McGee said. “He then forcefully slapped her in the face multiple times and then punched her.”
The attacker held the grandmother like a rag doll
An eyewitness described the incident, saying Debella was “grabbing and shaking her like a rag doll.”
After slapping and punching her, Debela pulled out a knife and stabbed Mukhe multiple times. Mukhe managed to run some distance before collapsing on the road.
The people standing there tried to help her, but she could not be saved.
The initial cause of death was found to be multiple blunt force injuries.
Debella was arrested in the nearby Colindale area on the day of the attack.
He has been remanded in custody and will appear in court again on November 6. “This was a shocking and senseless attack on an innocent woman,” McGee said.
The case is still ongoing and the court is awaiting further psychological evaluation of the accused.