A woman who helped stage a brutal murder was found cowering under a bed by police. Leah Campbell-Knechtel, 28, had been the subject of an intensive manhunt following the murder of her 66-year-old partner in London when she was found by a team of officers hiding beneath a mattress at a property in Muswell Hill.
Murder plot over money dispute
According to the Metropolitan Police, the actual murder of the unnamed victim was committed by an accomplice of Campbell-Knechtel named Jawad Naser, 47. Although she did not brandish the weapon, she was also involved in the killing. The attack was seemingly caused by a dispute over money.
The victim had given Campbell-Knechtel thousands of pounds over the course of their relationship and, on the day of the attack, handed over more cash after she asked for financial help. When he later demanded the money back, an argument broke out.
Attack and arrest
That evening, Campbell-Knechtel went to the victim's flat claiming she wanted to make peace. Moments later, she opened the door and allowed Naser to enter, passing him a kitchen knife she took from the victim's kitchen. Naser then stabbed the victim multiple times, leaving him with life-threatening injuries that required emergency surgery.
According to a police spokesperson, the 'savage' attackers were brought to justice following a discovery of "blood-stained trainers". 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."
Sentences and crime statistics
Leah Campbell-Knechtel of no fixed address and Jawad Naser of Cambridge Gardens, Muswell Hill, were each sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Friday, 14 August, after being convicted of grievous bodily harm.
The Met is relentlessly focused on reducing serious violence and keeping communities safe. Across London, knife-enabled crime fell by 14.9 per cent in 2025/26 compared with the previous year, including a 21 per cent reduction in knife-enabled robbery and an 8.4 per cent reduction in offences where a knife was used to cause injury.
