Bystanders' Desperate Attempts to Save Woman in North London Bus Stop Attack
In a harrowing account heard at the Old Bailey, multiple bystanders described their frantic efforts to intervene and provide first aid after a woman was fatally stabbed in what prosecutors allege was a random attack at a North London bus stop. The court heard detailed testimony from witnesses who found themselves at the centre of the violent incident that claimed the life of 66-year-old Anita Mukhey.
Chaotic Scene Unfolds on Burnt Oak Broadway
The attack occurred at approximately 11.50am on May 9, 2024, at a bus stop on Burnt Oak Broadway in North London. Stefan Dennis, one of the first witnesses to encounter the unfolding violence, told jurors he was walking along the Broadway when he heard screaming and shouting that immediately caught his attention.
"I can hear screaming, shouting," Mr Dennis recalled in his testimony. "Traffic in the road had come to a stop. Across the road I saw a black male and I saw what he was wearing and I just remember something shiny in his hand."
Mr Dennis described the attacker's demeanour as particularly disturbing given the surrounding chaos. "It was a nonchalant walk. A lot of things were happening at the time, shouting, screaming and pointing at his direction. There was a lot of chaos. He was normal considering people were shouting and screaming and putting a lot of attention in his direction."
Immediate Response from Witnesses
Upon realising the severity of the situation, Mr Dennis saw Ms Mukhey collapse to the ground as another woman screamed: "She's been stabbed." He immediately went to assist, then ran to a nearby climbing centre to locate a first aid kit before returning to administer CPR.
"I did the best I could do," Mr Dennis told the court regarding his efforts to save Ms Mukhey's life. Despite his intervention and the subsequent arrival of police and paramedics, Ms Mukhey was pronounced dead at 12.22pm.
Another eyewitness, Nicole Rosa, was inside the New Image Hair Salon when she heard screaming and witnessed what initially appeared to be a man "pulling and punching" a woman. By the time she went outside, the attacker had walked away calmly, but Ms Rosa soon realised the true nature of the violence.
"When he turned I saw a knife," she testified. "Everything stopped when I saw the knife. There was a red line on it, it was not dripping. It was not punches – he was actually stabbing her."
Multiple Perspectives on the Attack
Marius Cornea provided additional context, having been enjoying coffee with a friend at a pizzeria approximately 40-60 metres from the bus stop. His friend Vlad initially remarked: "Look at that idiot beating his wife," prompting Mr Cornea to lean forward and observe the assault.
He described seeing "three or four hard and fast punches to a woman's face and upper body" before running toward the bus stop where people were screaming. After the woman collapsed, Mr Cornea attempted to navigate between stationary vehicles to reach her.
"I called 999," he told jurors. "I noticed a lot of blood underneath the woman on the floor. I realised it was not beating, it was stabbing." He observed a significant cut on her neck and chin as he awaited emergency services.
Background to the Alleged Attack
The court heard that the defendant, 24-year-old Jala Debella from Colindale in north-west London, had been living in a residential home supporting people with mental health problems prior to the incident. Prosecutors allege he stabbed Ms Mukhey 18 times with a hunting knife he had purchased online just three days earlier.
According to evidence presented, the knife was delivered at 10.44am on the day of the attack – almost exactly one hour before the first emergency call was made. Police later recovered an identical blade from a bin where Debella was seen discarding an item, with DNA analysis allegedly linking the weapon to both Debella and Ms Mukhey.
Additional forensic evidence presented to the court included bloodstained Nike trainers recovered from Debella's room that allegedly contained Ms Mukhey's DNA. The jury has been informed that Debella is currently too unwell to attend court proceedings, with their task being to determine whether he committed the alleged acts that resulted in Ms Mukhey's death.
Anita Mukhey, described as a married grandmother who was "devoted to her family" and had worked in the NHS, became the victim of this apparently random violent attack that has left multiple witnesses traumatised by their experiences. The trial continues as the court examines the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident in North London.
