A Somali knifeman has admitted killing a pensioner and stabbing two others in a Remembrance Sunday rampage. Musse Ali, 68, killed 77-year-old Hilkiah McLeggan during his attack on shoppers moments before a two-minute silence at East Street Market, Walworth, on November 10, 2024. Two other victims, Ho Man Yau and Bahera Nadew Bartura, suffered serious injuries and were rushed to hospital.
Court Appearance and Pleas
Ali appeared at the Old Bailey wearing a grey hoodie and a black coat on Thursday to admit manslaughter, possession of a knife, and two counts of wounding with intent. He denies murder and attempted murder on the basis that his responsibility for killing was diminished by his schizoaffective disorder. Ali is currently being held at the specialist psychiatric Broadmoor Hospital.
Prosecution Statement
Prosecutor Danny Robinson KC said Ali had been 'too unwell' to participate in court proceedings for 'many months'. The Crown Prosecution Service accepted his pleas. Mr Robinson said: 'These charges arise from an incident on 10 November 2024 where Mr McLeggan, Mr Man Yau and Mr Bartura all suffered an attack from a knife by Mr Ali. Mr Ali was arrested at the scene and very soon was in receipt of treatment for his schizoaffective disorder.'
'During the course of these proceedings there have been eight psychiatric reports - each has agreed that he has a longstanding diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. For many months he was too unwell to participate in these proceedings. That changed earlier this year and the most recent psychiatric reports considered whether the partial defence to murder of diminished responsibility was available. They each concluded the partial defence was available to him for the same reasons - that at the time of the offence his schizoaffective disorder substantially impaired his ability to form a rational judgement and exercise self-control.'
Acceptance of Pleas
'The acceptability of the pleas has been considered at a high level by the Crown Prosecution Service and as a result of those conversations I can inform the court those pleas are acceptable.' Judge Nigel Lickley KC will set a sentencing date at a hearing on 1 May.
Details of the Attack
The prosecutor had previously told the court that CCTV showed Mr Ali entering the market just after 10.30am on the day of his attack. He said: 'He jumped over the counter and tried to steal something. The shopkeeper pushed him away and outside the shop he saw Mr Ali had a knife. CCTV then records Mr Ali stabbing the three victims with a large knife in quick succession. He lunged at other members of the public with the knife before he was detained by store holders before police arrived and arrested him. Sadly Mr McLeggan was pronounced dead at the scene having sustained a single stab wound to the back.'
