A paranoid schizophrenic who brutally stabbed a grandmother to death at a busy north London bus stop has been detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act, in a case that has exposed critical questions about risk assessment protocols for individuals with severe mental illness.
Horrific Attack on 'Heart of the Family'
Jala Debella, 24, launched a frenzied attack on 66-year-old medical secretary Anita Mukhey on the morning of May 9, 2024, stabbing her 18 times in front of horrified bystanders on Burnt Oak Broadway. Shockingly, after committing the violent act, Debella reportedly walked away "casually" while members of the public rushed to assist the mortally wounded grandmother.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
At a hearing at the Old Bailey, Judge Philip Katz KC addressed an empty dock as Debella was absent from court, describing Ms Mukhey as "the heart of the family" – a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother whose life was tragically ended by a complete stranger. The court sentenced Debella to a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act with an indefinite restriction order under Section 41.
During proceedings, it emerged that Debella had been deemed too unwell to stand trial for murder, leading to a "trial of issue" where a jury determined his responsibility for the killing. The court heard disturbing details about Debella's fixation with violent online content and his ability to purchase a hunting knife over the internet despite residing in a staffed mental health rehabilitation home in Colindale.
Systemic Failures and Family Anguish
In a powerful statement read to the court, Ms Mukhey's husband Hari expressed profound grief, stating that his wife's absence had created "a silence that nothing can fill." He thanked the brave members of the public who tried to save his wife but voiced deep concern about the psychological evaluations of her killer.
The family issued a statement highlighting a troubling disconnect between professional assessments and actual behaviour: "The court has heard that a man with a severe mental illness was known to services and assessed by consultant psychiatrists as psychologically stable and safe for the community. At the same time, he was engaging in escalating behaviour... including acquiring weapons and researching extreme violence."
Critical Questions About Risk Assessment
The case has raised serious questions about current mental health risk assessment models and their ability to detect danger that develops outside clinical settings. The family specifically questioned how Debella could purchase weapons online while living in a Care Quality Commission registered rehabilitation facility.
Judge Katz refrained from commenting on the "safety of the regime" at the residential home but noted that "others will consider it, hopefully soon." Meanwhile, the Care Quality Commission clarified that the services provided at Debella's residence at the time of the attack did not fall under their regulatory scope.
Disturbing Pre-Attack Behaviour
Evidence presented in court revealed that Debella had searched for "killing video" content and visited websites containing graphic violent material before the attack. CCTV footage captured him walking along Edgware Road, passing a bus stop, then returning to the location where he attacked Ms Mukhey.
Forensic analysis confirmed that a knife recovered by police – identical to one Debella purchased online – contained DNA from both the attacker and victim. The weapon had been delivered to his home approximately one hour before the fatal stabbing.
Mental Health History and Aftermath
Dr Melanie Higgins, Debella's medical consultant, confirmed he had been detained under the Mental Health Act on at least three previous occasions and suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. Arrangements have been made for his continued admission at Ashworth High Secure Hospital in Merseyside.
Detective Chief Inspector Alex Gammampila from Scotland Yard acknowledged that while the legal outcome was necessary for public protection, it offered "little comfort" to Ms Mukhey's devastated family. He praised the dignity and courage shown by the family over the past twenty months and thanked witnesses and first responders for their compassion and evidence.
This tragic case continues to resonate through north London communities and mental health services, highlighting the complex challenges in balancing patient care with public safety in contemporary mental health provision.
