Life Imprisonment for 'Callous and Selfish' Killer in East London Murder
Duane Owusu, a 36-year-old man infamously nicknamed Nasty, has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of Zahwa Mukhtar, a profoundly deaf young woman, in a shocking one-punch attack in east London. The Old Bailey trial revealed that Owusu displayed what Judge Richard Marks KC described as "callous and selfish" behavior, fatally striking Ms. Mukhtar in the neck and abandoning her on the pavement without seeking help.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The fatal encounter occurred in the early hours of August 16 last year, following a rave in Stoke Newington. Ms. Mukhtar, a 27-year-old aspiring accountant who worked as a finance assistant at the Young Vic Theatre, had never met Owusu before that night. She joined his group, inhaling laughing gas balloons, and later entered their overcrowded Mercedes car for a ride back to Dagenham.
During the journey, an argument erupted between Ms. Mukhtar and one of Owusu's female friends, escalating to hair-pulling and threats. In response, Owusu seized her phone, threw it from the vehicle, and forcibly ejected her from the car. As she sat on the pavement, he aimed two kicks at her face before delivering a single, forceful punch to her neck that caused her to collapse, suffering a fatal head injury.
Abandonment and Aftermath
Despite pleas from horrified friends to assist Ms. Mukhtar, Owusu callously declared, "no-one cares about her," and insisted they drive away, leaving her prone on the ground at 4:30 a.m. Graphic CCTV footage captured the incident, and witness Paige Allen testified that Owusu appeared "like a monster" in a rage, with Ms. Mukhtar pleading for him to stop before the fatal blow.
Police and paramedics discovered Ms. Mukhtar unresponsive at 5:31 a.m., and she was pronounced dead at 6:21 a.m. from a fractured skull and brain injury. Owusu and his group were stopped and searched by officers shortly after fleeing but were released before reports of the woman on the pavement were investigated.
Sentencing and Victim's Legacy
On Tuesday, Judge Marks imposed a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years and six months, emphasizing that Owusu struck with "absolutely no justification" and showed utter disregard for Ms. Mukhtar's well-being. In a televised sentencing, the judge noted that while Owusu may not have known the severity of her injuries, his indifference was reprehensible.
In a heartfelt statement read to the court, Ms. Mukhtar's brother, Jamaluddin Mukhtar, described her as a "remarkable young woman" who became deaf at age three due to meningitis but never let her disability hinder her. He highlighted her "constant smile and infectious laughter," kindness, and ability to inspire others, stating that her loss has created an "immeasurable void" in their family.
Background and Mitigation
During the trial, jurors were not informed of Owusu's prior criminal record, which includes an eight-year prison sentence in 2010 for his role as a getaway driver in a botched robbery that resulted in a fatal stabbing. Released in 2013 after a conviction for conspiracy to rob, Owusu was on bail for alleged class A drug supply at the time of Ms. Mukhtar's murder.
In mitigation, defense counsel Michael Borrelli KC expressed that Owusu was "deeply sorry" for the pain inflicted on Ms. Mukhtar's family. However, Judge Marks condemned Owusu's actions, stating that he "left her there thinking only of himself," and that such behavior was difficult to imagine in its callousness.
This case underscores the tragic consequences of violence and neglect, leaving a community in mourning for a young woman whose resilience and spirit touched many lives.
