Grandmother suffered fatal stab wounds in bus stop attack, court told

A man has appeared at the Old Bailey accused of fatally stabbing a grandmother in the chest and neck as she waited at a bus stop.

Medical secretary Anita Mukhey, 66, allegedly sustained multiple knife wounds after being slapped, punched and shaken by her attacker, the Old Bailey has heard.

The incident began at about 11.46am on May 9 at the Burnt Oak Broadway stop in Edgware, north London, and was witnessed by members of the public.

It is alleged that a man had approached the victim and had a brief exchange with her before he slapped her face several times and punched her.

When she tried to get away, it is claimed that he was seen to grab her and hold her “like a rag doll”, shaking her about.

The attacker then allegedly produced a knife and stabbed her a number of times as members of the public shouted at him to stop.

Mrs Mukhey collapsed into the road and emergency services were called.

There were attempts to resuscitate her but she died at the scene at 12.22pm.

A preliminary cause of death was found to be sharp force injuries to the front of the chest and neck, prosecutor Philip McGhee said.

Jalal Debella, 22, was arrested later that afternoon in his room at accommodation in Colindale, north-west London.

He was charged with murder and having an offensive weapon in public, namely a knife.

On Tuesday, Debella appeared by video link from Wormwood Scrubs for a hearing at the Old Bailey.

Judge Angela Raffferty KC set a plea hearing for August 6.

Debella, who spoke only to confirm his identity, was remanded in custody.

Previously, the victim’s family said in a statement: “Anita Mukhey, 66 years old, was a married mother and grandmother devoted to her family, who also worked part-time in the NHS as a medical secretary.

“The family ask for privacy at this difficult time.”