“In a matter of seconds, the attack shattered my physical health, psychiatric well-being, independence and hopes for the future”
A homeless man stole a knife and used it to kill a grandfather and stab two others in a market on a Remembrance Sunday morning, a court has heard. Musse Ali, 67, killed Hilkiah McLeggan, 77, and wounded Ho Man Yau and Baheru Nadew Bartura in East Street market in Walworth, south London, on Sunday November 10 2024.
A sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey heard that Ali has previously been diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder, and experiences symptoms associated with both schizophrenia and bipolar.
The defendant had not been taking his medication at the time of the attack, and Mr McLeggan’s grieving relatives said his life choices have left their family “devastated”.
Ali, who was born in Somalia but moved to the UK in 1990 after seeking asylum, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility, having an article with a blade, and wounding with intent.
Prosecutor Allan Compton KC told the court that on the date of the incident, Ali travelled to the market by bus in a journey which was “unremarkable”. Upon his arrival, Ali entered a shop and stole a knife, it was heard.
The shopkeeper believed Ali was trying to steal vapes, so pushed him out. Once outside, he realised the defendant was holding a blade.
Mr Compton KC said that Ali then stabbed three people in “quick succession”.
The first victim to be stabbed, Mr Yau, was walking through the market when Ali “ran at him” and “stabbed him a number of times”, the court was told.
In a witness statement, Mr Yau said the defendant “looked crazy”, adding: “His eyes were wide and scary, looking directly at me. He looked unclean, like he hadn’t had a shave or a shower in a while.”
Ali subsequently stabbed Mr Bartura from behind before stabbing Mr McLeggan.
During the ordeal, panicked by-passers shouted “he has a knife”, the court heard.
The defendant also “lunged” at other members of the public with the blade before he was ultimately disarmed.
The prosecutor said that when a police officer approached Ali, who was being detained by members of the public, he was lying on the ground complaining of an injured leg.
Mr McLeggan died at the scene from a stab wound to the back. The other two victims were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The defendant had not been taking his medication for his schizoaffective disorder since leaving supported living in August 2024, the court heard.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Bartura said the incident “changed my life”, adding: “In a matter of seconds, the attack shattered my physical health, psychiatric well-being, independence and hopes for the future.”
He said that since the assault, he has become dependent on his wife and children, adding: “Without their support I’m effectively housebound because of the overwhelming anxiety, post-traumatic stress and a constant fear of being attacked again.
“No sentence imposed by the court can restore my health or return the life that was taken from me on November 10 2024… However, I hope the court can understand the life-long impact this violent attack has had on me.”
Delivering a victim impact statement to the court, Mr McLeggan’s daughter Laura said: “Mr Ali’s life choices have left our family devastated.”
She said Ali was “sound of mind when he made a decision, a conscious decision, to end his medication”.
Ms McLeggan said he made “the choice to abscond from supported living and withdraw from mental health services”. She said that Ali has shown “no remorse”, adding: “The murder of our father was preventable.”
Sarah McLeggan, who is also a daughter of the victim, said: “It’s soul-destroying to think that he will never have the mental capacity to take account for what he did and understand the impact on not just our family and friends but those other victims who were hurt on that horrible day.”
She described her father as a “dear friend, confidant, go-to guy when things went wrong” who was “everything to everyone”.
The responsible clinician for Ali told the court that the defendant has a “serious and treatment-resistant” form of the schizoaffective disorder.
He said that in his view, Ali would not have offended and the event would not have taken place if he did not suffer the illness.
The sentencing hearing is ongoing.
