Leah Campbell-Knechtel, 28, passed a kitchen knife to Jawad Naser, 47, to attack her 66-year-old partner following a dispute over money on January 18. The victim, who had given Campbell-Knechtel thousands of pounds during an apparent relationship, had also given her cash on the day of the attack. But an argument broke out when he demanded the money back, police said.
Attack and discovery
Campbell-Knechtel later returned to the flat to “make peace”, but allowed Naser to enter and passed him a kitchen knife to attack the victim, according to the force. Officers were called to a flat in Islington just after 7pm, where they found the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds which required emergency surgery. He has since been left with life-changing injuries.
Less than 48 hours later, officers armed with Tasers entered an address in Muswell Hill as part of an intensive manhunt for Campbell-Knechtel. Body-worn footage shows officers entering a bedroom and lifting a mattress before finding her hiding beneath the bedframe.
Sentencing and investigation
Campbell-Knechtel, 28, of no fixed address and Naser, 47, of Cambridge Gardens, Muswell Hill, were each sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Friday, August 14 after being convicted of grievous bodily harm. Naser was found just four hours after the attack where bloodstained trainers were recovered which formed part of the evidence at trial, police said. Naser and Campbell-Knechtel were found not guilty of attempted murder, but guilty of grievous bodily harm by a jury after trial.
Detective Chief Inspector Gemma Alger, of the Met's Central North Criminal Investigation Department, said: “Campbell-Knechtel thought she could avoid justice by hiding under a bed, but our officers were right on her trail. This was a savage knife attack by Naser that left the victim with life-changing injuries. Less than 48 hours after the attack, officers had pieced together the evidence, tracked down the suspects, and put them in custody. Now they're exactly where they belong – behind bars. Campbell-Knechtel may not have wielded the knife herself, but she lured the victim into a false sense of security and made the attack possible. The sentences recognise that her role was every bit as serious.”
