A man known by the nickname ‚Nasty‘ has been convicted of murder after fatally assaulting a profoundly deaf woman with a single punch during a night out in east London.
Duane Owusu, 36, was found guilty of killing 27-year-old Zahwa Mukhtar after an incident that occurred in the early hours of August 16 last year. The jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for nearly 12 hours before reaching their verdict.
Details of the Incident
Owusu reportedly threw Ms. Mukhtar out of an overcrowded Mercedes after attending a rave. Following a confrontation in which Ms. Mukhtar allegedly pulled the hair of one of Owusu’s female companions and threatened violence, Owusu took drastic action.
According to the prosecution, Owusu seized Ms. Mukhtar’s phone and discarded it from the vehicle before ejecting her onto the pavement. As she sat there, he aimed two kicks at her face. When she attempted to rise, he struck her in the neck, causing her to fall to the ground.
Witness Accounts and Evidence
The violent encounter was captured on CCTV, which later served as critical evidence in the trial. Witness Paige Allen recounted the scene, stating,
“He was just rage. He looked like a monster. His behaviour was just wrong. She just fell. Just fell backwards.”
After the assault, Owusu and his group were stopped by police nearby, following reports of a woman lying on the pavement. Ms. Mukhtar was discovered unresponsive at 5:31 AM and was pronounced dead at 6:21 AM, having suffered a fractured skull and brain injury.
Owusu’s Defense and Previous Conviction
During the trial, Owusu denied the allegations, claiming he merely pushed Ms. Mukhtar away in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. He expressed that he did not believe she had been seriously harmed and described himself as being
“traumatized”
by the events.
Owusu’s criminal history includes a prior conviction in 2010, where he was sentenced to eight years for being the getaway driver in a robbery that resulted in the death of a shop manager. In a separate case, a man was convicted of murdering a woman after throwing her out of a car, highlighting the severity of such violent acts.
Emotional Reactions in Court
The trial was marked by heightened emotions, particularly when Ms. Mukhtar’s brother, Abas Mukhtar, reacted violently in court, lunging at Owusu. This incident left jurors visibly shaken. Judge Richard Marks KC imposed a £1,000 fine for contempt of court, describing the outburst as an
“ugly and sustained attempt at assault.”
Upon the delivery of the guilty verdict, there was a palpable silence in the courtroom, with both the defendant and the victim’s family remaining still.
Official Statements
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke from Scotland Yard expressed his condolences to Ms. Mukhtar’s family, stating that they had lost their daughter in “horrendous circumstances.” He emphasized the weight of the evidence against Owusu, noting that the CCTV footage provided a clear depiction of his guilt and characterized him as a “remorseless killer.”
Owusu has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced next Thursday. In another recent case, a man was charged with murder after a fatal stabbing in Camden, illustrating the ongoing issues of violence in urban areas. Additionally, a man was charged with the murder of a woman in Willesden, further emphasizing the need for community safety.
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Bildquelle: ai-generated-gemini
