A young man obsessed with graphic violent videos online purchased a hunting knife and used it to murder a grandmother as she waited at a bus stop in a random attack, the Old Bailey has heard.
A Senseless and Fatal Attack
The court was told that Jala Debella, 24, stabbed Anita Mukhey, 66, a total of 18 times on Edgware Road in north London around 11.50am on May 9, 2024. Multiple witnesses saw the attack, after which Debella was seen walking away 'casually' while members of the public rushed to help Mrs Mukhey and call emergency services.
Despite the efforts of medics and police who arrived swiftly, Mrs Mukhey died approximately thirty minutes later. Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay KC stated that the attack was 'senseless' and that, as far as is known, the victim and her attacker were 'completely unknown to each other'.
An Obsession with Violence and Knives
The trial heard that Debella, who lived in a supported residential home in Colindale, north-west London, had a documented fixation on extreme content. His lawyers acknowledged he had a 'particular interest in very violent videos' depicting knife crime and other weapons.
This interest extended to real blades. The court heard he bought a 21cm hunting knife for £120 in Covent Garden two months before the alleged murder. Furthermore, just three days before the killing, he successfully purchased another hunting knife with a sheath from an online retailer, knifewarehouse.co.uk, after another website refused his order.
On the morning of the attack, Debella tracked the delivery of this knife via Royal Mail, receiving it at 10.44am. Minutes later, he searched online for 'killing video' and visited a site containing graphic violent content.
The Aftermath and Evidence
CCTV footage captured Debella's movements, showing him walk past a bus stop and then return to the scene where Mrs Mukhey was attacked. Witnesses described a man arguing with and repeatedly punching the victim before a knife was seen in his hand. A 'high-pitched scream' was heard before she collapsed.
As he left, Debella appeared to discard an item in a bin. Police later recovered a knife matching the one he bought online. Forensic analysis found DNA from both Debella and Mrs Mukhey on the weapon. Bloodstained Nike trainers seized from his room also contained DNA evidence 'one billion times' more likely to come from the victim and defendant than from unknown individuals.
After returning home, Debella allegedly searched for terms including 'knife', 'gore video' and 'breaking news'. He was arrested later that day after an officer recognised him from CCTV, despite a change of clothes.
Debella, who has been charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon, was too unwell to attend court as the trial of facts opened. The case continues at the Old Bailey.
