Brother of Murdered Deaf Woman Attacks Killer in Old Bailey Courtroom
In a dramatic and unprecedented scene at the Old Bailey, the brother of a deaf woman murdered on a night out attempted to attack her remorseless killer while he was giving evidence. The incident occurred last month, leaving jurors extremely shaken and prompting Senior Judge Richard Marks KC to describe it as the most appalling courtroom event he had ever witnessed, nearly derailing the trial entirely.
Conviction and Sentencing of Duane Owusu
Duane Owusu, 36, was later convicted of murdering Zahwa Mukhtar, 27, in a brutal attack last August. The court heard that Owusu threw Ms. Mukhtar out of a Mercedes, punched her to the ground, and left her for dead, uttering the chilling words, No-one cares. Judge Marks remanded Owusu into custody, with sentencing scheduled for next Thursday. Jurors were not informed that Owusu had previously been jailed for eight years in 2010 for his role as a getaway driver in a botched robbery that resulted in the stabbing death of a Matalan shop manager.
Details of the Fatal Night Out
Ms. Mukhtar, who worked as a finance assistant at the Young Vic Theatre in London, had never met Owusu before encountering his group in the early hours of August 16 last year in Stoke Newington. She joined them in inhaling laughing gas balloons. When the group decided to return home to Dagenham, she entered their already overcrowded car. During the journey, an argument erupted between Ms. Mukhtar and one of Owusu's female friends, escalating to hair-pulling and threats of stabbing.
Prosecutors stated that Owusu grabbed Ms. Mukhtar's phone and threw it out of the car before forcibly ejecting her from the vehicle. As she sat on the pavement, he aimed two kicks at her face. When she stood up, Owusu punched her in the neck, causing her to collapse. Graphic CCTV footage captured the incident, witnessed by Owusu's horrified friends. Paige Allen, a witness, described Ms. Mukhtar pleading with Owusu to stop before he landed the fatal blow, saying, He was just rage. He looked like a monster. His behaviour was just wrong.
Aftermath and Medical Response
Ms. Mukhtar was found unresponsive at 5:31 a.m. and pronounced dead at 6:21 a.m., despite efforts by police and paramedics. She had suffered a fractured skull and brain injury. Owusu denied punching Ms. Mukhtar, claiming he only pushed her away to de-escalate the situation and did not believe she was severely hurt. He testified that he was traumatized by the events and never intended harm.
Courtroom Disruption and Legal Consequences
The trial was halted when Abas Mukhtar, the victim's brother and a plumber, became overcome with anger and lunged at Owusu in the witness box. Defence lawyer Charles McCombe apologized on behalf of Mukhtar for the disruption, stating it had messed up the trial for his sister. Judge Marks fined Mukhtar £1,000 for contempt of court, opting not to impose a prison sentence, but condemned the ugly and sustained attempt at assault, expressing absolute appall at the incident.
Verdict and Police Statement
Silence filled the courtroom as the guilty verdict was delivered. Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke from Scotland Yard extended his thoughts to Ms. Mukhtar's family, who lost their daughter in horrendous circumstances. He emphasized that CCTV footage painted a damning picture of Owusu's guilt, revealing him as a remorseless killer who acted with callous disregard for his victim.
