'Gore fanatic killed woman with hunting knife'

A man described as a "gore video fanatic" bought a hunting knife online then fatally stabbed a woman 18 times as she waited at a north London bus stop, a court has heard.

Several members of the public allegedly saw Jala Debella carrying out the "senseless attack" on 66-year-old Anita Mukhey on Edgware Road on 9 May 2024 before "casually walking away".

On Monday, jurors at the Old Bailey were told that Debella, 24, was unwell and could not attend court - he has not entered a plea.

The court proceeding is trial of the facts, held when a defendant is deemed unfit to stand trial but the prosecution still wants to establish if they committed the alleged crimes.

Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay KC told jurors their task was to determine whether Debella had killed Mukhey.

The court was told that Debella had lived in Colindale, north-west London, in a residential home supporting people with mental health problems.

Polnay said: "Debella killed Ms Mukhey in a senseless attack - so far as the prosecution are aware, they were completely unknown to each other."

He said the defendant had a "particular interest in very violent videos" online, which depicted extreme violence with knives and other weapons.

Three days before the killing, he purchased a hunting knife with a sheaf from an online shop, which arrived on the morning of the attack, the court was told.

It is alleged that after it arrived, Debella searched on his computer for "killing video" and visited a website containing graphic violent content.

The defendant was recorded on CCTV walking north on Edgware Road and then returning to the scene where Mukhey was attacked.

Thirty seconds later, she could be seen collapsing in the road - the first 999 call being made at 11:48 BST.

There was a "high-pitched scream" before the victim collapsed and the man "casually" walked away, jurors were told.

Mukhey died at 12:22 despite the efforts of medics and police to save her life, the Old Bailey heard.

Later that day, police recovered a knife which looked identical to the one Debella had bought online, Polnay said.

Forensic analysis showed it had DNA from Debella and Mukhey on it, the court was told.

On returning home, Debella allegedly searched the internet for "knife", "gore video" and "breaking news".

Jurors were told police arrived at 16:46 at Debella's accommodation and arrested him on suspicion of murder.

In a police interview, Debella made no comment and was charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

The trial continues.

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