A homeless man who killed a grandfather and stabbed two others with a stolen knife at a south London market on Remembrance Sunday has been given an indefinite hospital order.
Musse Ali, 67, killed Hilkiah McLeggan, 77, and seriously injured two others in East Street market in Walworth on 10 November 2024.
At the Old Bailey, Ali pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility, having an article with a blade, and wounding with intent.
The court heard Ali had been diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder, but had not taken his medication for three months before the attack. His Honour Judge Nigel Lickley said: “A life was lost and many lives changed as a consequence.”
On the day of the incident, Ali travelled to the market by bus, entered a shop and stole a knife, prosecutor Allan Compton told the court.
Ali then stabbed three people in “quick succession”.
The first victim, Ho Man Yau, was walking through the market when Ali “stabbed him a number of times”, before attacking Baheru Nadew Bartura from behind. Both were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
He then attacked McLeggan who died at the scene from a stab wound to the back.
The defendant also lunged at other members of the public with the blade before he was detained and disarmed by members of the public, Compton said.
