Deaf Woman, 27, Allegedly Kicked from Car and Left to Die on East London Street
A profoundly deaf young woman was punched in the neck by a raver and then left to die in the street, the Old Bailey has heard in a harrowing murder trial. Zahwa Mukhtar, 27, was thrown out of a car in Chadwell Heath, Romford, and fatally attacked in the early hours of Saturday, August 16 last year.
Prosecution Details 'Senseless Killing of a Vulnerable Young Woman'
Opening the trial of Duane Owusu, 36, prosecutor Henrietta Paget KC described the case as the "senseless killing of a vulnerable young woman" who had fallen in with a group of strangers. Ms Mukhtar, who lost her hearing after meningitis at age three, was "bright, bubbly, enthusiastic" and worked as a finance assistant at the Young Vic Theatre, aspiring to become an accountant.
Jurors were told she coped well with her deafness, using lip-reading and British Sign Language, and enjoyed socialising like any other young person. On the night of the incident, Owusu had attended a rave in a silver Mercedes with acquaintances from Dagenham, while Ms Mukhtar met the group "by chance" outside a pub in Stoke Newington.
Violent Attack Captured on CCTV
With seven people in the car, Ms Mukhtar sat on Owusu's lap during the journey. The prosecutor stated that occupants had been drinking and taking drugs, and Ms Mukhtar's erratic behavior—flirting and picking fights—caused annoyance. When she began recording on her phone, Owusu ordered the car to stop.
"He threw out Ms Mukhtar's phone and then ejected her body from the car, so that she landed on her backside on the pavement," Ms Paget said. "Getting out after her, he aimed two kicks at her face as she sat on the ground." After a female group member tried to intervene, Ms Mukhtar pleaded for him to stop, but Owusu punched her hard in the neck, knocking her down.
The fall caused a fractured skull and fatal brain injury. Rather than helping, Owusu allegedly shouted at others to get back in the car, which drove away, leaving Ms Mukhtar to die. CCTV footage of the attack outside a care home was shown to jurors. Owusu has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter.
Tributes to a 'Humble and Sweet' Community Pillar
The deaf community in East London paid heartfelt tributes to Ms Mukhtar, describing her as a "humble and sweet" woman deeply involved in local activities. She regularly attended Hackney Deaf Club, where organiser Tahene Howell said the community is "heartbroken."
"She touched a lot of people... She was someone you could not forget," Howell told MyLondon. "She always had good energy, and was smiling. I am so devastated." Friends noted her volunteer work, natural social skills, and confidence, calling her a "ray of sunshine" who uplifted others.
Lucy Deeble, a BSL interpreter known as Signmusic, said Ms Mukhtar spread kindness everywhere. "She was such an unforgettable presence... Zahwa touched so many lives with her warmth and compassion, and her memory will live on," she added. "She was taken too soon. She had more life to live."
The trial at the Old Bailey continues as the court seeks justice for this tragic loss.
