A 22-year-old man, Jalal Debella, appeared in court via video link on August 6, 2024, facing charges of murder and possession of an offensive weapon. Debella is accused of the brutal stabbing death of Anita Mukhey, a 66-year-old Indian-origin grandmother, at a bus stop in northwest London. The attack, described as “entirely random and unprovoked” by Prosecutor Philip McGhee, occurred on May 9, 2024.
Debella, who is currently held at His Majesty’s Prison Belmarsh, appeared in court remotely from the Category A men’s prison in Thamesmead, southeast London. During the brief hearing, he only confirmed his name and date of birth. The proceedings were adjourned due to an incomplete psychiatric assessment, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Anita Mukhey, a medical secretary working part-time for the National Health Service (NHS), was waiting at the Burnt Oak Broadway bus stop in Edgware when the incident occurred. According to the prosecution, Debella initially walked past Mukhey and sat on a nearby bench. He then approached her, engaging in what appeared to be a brief exchange.
Prosecutor McGhee described the attack, noting that Debella first slapped Mukhey forcefully and then punched her. Witnesses reported that Debella was “holding her like a rag doll” while shaking her. He subsequently pulled out a knife and stabbed Mukhey multiple times in the chest and neck. Mukhey managed to move a short distance before collapsing in the road. Despite attempts by bystanders to assist her, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The preliminary cause of death was 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, 2024. Prosecutor McGhee condemned the attack as “shocking and senseless,” emphasizing the random nature of the violence against an innocent woman.
The case is ongoing, with the court awaiting further psychiatric evaluation of the accused to proceed with the legal process.
