A 66-year-old Pune-born British citizen, Anita Mukhey, was stabbed to death at a bus stop in Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware in London after trying to resist a 22-year-old man attempting to steal her handbag.

While emergency care was prompt and alert, with the first paramedic arriving in two minutes, and Mukhey was treated for her knife wounds— she died at the scene.

A video of the scene has been circulating on X, showing her lying in a pool of her own blood with people crowding around her with towels. 

The culprit is suspected to be Jalal Debella, arrested in the Collindale area that same day. On Saturday, at Willesden magistrates’ court, he was charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon. According to the Crown Prosecution Serve (CPS) dialogue with the court, a preliminary cause of death were sharp force injuries to the front of the chest and neck. 

Witnesses state that Pune-born British citizen, Mukhey had been trying to get away from the suspect who had then grabbed her and held her “like a rag doll,” shaking her around. When the suspect had then attacked her with a knife, people around them had screamed at him to stop. However, he had not. Mukhey had died on the scene half an hour after the attack. 

According to The Times, Jess Bloom, a witness to the scene working at a hair salon nearby said, “The guy was trying to get her handbag but she said ‘no’ and fought back. I saw her pull the handbag twice. He pulled her into the road and stabbed her three times.” Pune-born British citizen, Mukhey also said, “He let go of her and she dropped to the ground in the middle of the road. She was covered in blood and his hand was red. He ran off and everyone ran to the woman to help her.”

Pune-born British citizen
Image from NDTV

Another witness told The Times that he saw the man leaving “as cool as a cucumber”, only running upon being chased.

According to BBC, Debella will enter his plea for guilty or not guilty at Old Bailey Court’s next hearing session in August. Judge Angela Rafferty KC has set a plea hearing for 6 August.  “Police were called at around 11:50hrs on Thursday, 9 May, to reports of a stabbing in Burnt Oak Broadway,” the Metropolitan Police said.

“Officers, London Ambulance Service (LAS) and London’s Air Ambulance (HEMS) all attended the scene, where a 66-year-old woman was treated for knife wounds. Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services, she died at the scene. Her family have been informed.”

Pune-born British citizen
Image from Pune pulse

In a statement issued by the police, Mukhey’s family said that Pune-born British citizen Anita Mukhey was a married mother and a grandmother devoted to her family, who also worked part-time in the NHS as a Medical Secretary. They asked for privacy at such a difficult time. 

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