Friday May 31, 2024
London (HOL) - An "extremely dangerous" man who carried out a series of random slasher attacks in Brixton, south London, has been sentenced to life in prison. Mohamed Nur, 34, was sentenced in absentia at the Old Bailey to life with a minimum term of 32 years for the murder of Johanita Kossiwa Dogbey, 31, and for slashing the faces of three other victims in separate attacks.
On May 1, 2023, Nur attacked Ms. Dogbey, stabbing her three times in the neck as she walked home. Ms. Dogbey, who was on the phone with her grandmother, pleaded, "leave me, leave me," before succumbing to her injuries at the scene. According to court documents, Nur had attacked Rebecca Wilkes, Tomasz Kmiecik, and Katie Matthews in quick succession two days earlier, inflicting facial injuries with a makeshift weapon.
Judge Angela Rafferty KC described Nur's actions as "random, vicious, horrific" and "without mercy." Addressing the empty dock, she stated, "You stabbed her three times in her neck causing the fatal wounds. You did not stop until she fell down. You are an extremely dangerous man, and the risk you pose is incalculable."
During the sentencing, emotional statements from the victims' families were read aloud. Ms. Dogbey's younger sister, Laura, described her as "innocent, loving, and selfless." She expressed the profound impact of the loss, saying, "To say it was the worst day of my life would be too simple. To say it broke me would be an understatement."
Prosecutor Julian Evans KC detailed the sequence of events leading up to Ms. Dogbey's murder. CCTV footage presented in court showed Nur approaching her from behind on Stockwell Park Walk. Ms. Dogbey, unaware of her impending danger, was returning home after buying a birthday present for her mother on Oxford Street. After the attack, Nur fled the scene and discarded the weapon in a nearby housing estate. Despite the quick response from emergency services, Ms. Dogbey was pronounced dead at 4:42 PM. A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as sharp force trauma to the neck.
Nur, who came to the UK from Somalia in 1993, had a history of drug addiction and homelessness. At the time of the attacks, he was living in accommodation for vulnerable adults in Vauxhall. His criminal record included previous convictions for possession of cannabis, a firearm, ammunition, and blades.
The court also heard testimonies from Nur's other victims. Ms. Wilkes described being "physically and mentally scarred," while Mr. Kmiecik reported suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Ms. Matthews recounted increased anxiety and fear of strangers, stating, "It could so easily have been me that died in that moment."
Nur was apprehended on May 2, 2023, in Brixton High Street. He was found with another weapon made from a piece of broken mirror. When questioned by the police, he admitted to smoking crack cocaine but feigned ignorance about Ms. Dogbey, asking, "What, who's she?"
In November 2023, Nur admitted to the murder of Ms. Dogbey and possession of a homemade blade. He was also found guilty of three charges of unlawful wounding related to the previous attacks. Judge Rafferty emphasized the premeditated and random nature of Nur's crimes, warning of the potential for further violence had he not been arrested. "We cannot have defendants in cases such as this not turning up to court," she said, highlighting the gravity of Nur's absence during his sentencing.