IN THE NEWS WATFORD ATTACKER GETS 18 YEARS WHILE HERO TAXI DRIVER COMMENDED FOR SAVING WOMAN’S LIFE
A taxi driver was stabbed when he put himself between a knifeman and the woman he was “despicably” attack- ing. Anwar Hussen, 43, showed “extreme bravery” as he step- ped into protect the 36-year-old woman from Khaled Ahmed in the early hours of the morning on 3 July last year in Vicarage Road, Watford. Ahmed, a 39-year- old illegal immigrant from Bangladesh, also caused wounds to the woman’s nephew’s right hand that are so bad he can no longer work as a chef, St Albans crown court heard. Ahmed, from St Al- bans pleaded guilty to three charges of wounding with in- tent and one of possessing a knife. Prosecutor Stefan Weidmann said Ahmed had wanted the woman to marry him so he could stay in the country. He said it was
Ahmed’s “fervent hope” for a mar- riage to her that would legalise his right to stay in the UK. But after she re- fused, the woman, her nephew and Ahmed met at a restaurant in Vicar- age Road where they agreed a plan for her to repay £5,400 Ahmed had given her. Mr Weidmann told the court: “She re- fused repeated re- quests to marry. The refusals gave rise to threats of violence from the defendant - threats to kill and to harm her children in her native Bang- ladesh. “The defendant finally accepted she would not marry him. So he declared that all the money he had given her in the months prior was to be repaid to him.” An amount of £100 a month was ag- reed. Outside, the nephew thought Ahmed was about
to shake his hand to make up. Instead Ahmed lunged at him, stabbing his right thigh. The court heard that as he went to grab the knife,
the
nephew suffered serious injuries to his fingers. Ahmed then stab- bed the woman a total of nine times both outside and inside the restaurant and at one point chased her around cars in the street. He was seen to hold the knife above his head and brought it down. Mr Hussen, who did not know anybody involved, got out of his taxi and ran after Ahmed and the woman. He caught up with them back in the restaurant, where Ahmed stab- bed her again. Mr Weidmann said: “Mr Hussen got between them and partially tripped. He was on one knee. He put his palms onto the defendant’s middle to prevent
further attack. “He was stabbed once to the upper left side of the torso.” Ahmed fled the area in a taxi, to an address in Barnet. He gave himself up later that day at a police station in London. The woman was taken to hospital with life-threatening in-juries, having lost a significant amount of blood. She was in hospital for 16 days. Her nephew was in hospital for ten days and can no longer work as a chef. Mr Hussen was treated for a single wound to the left side of his chest. In a victim personal statement the wo- man said: “I thought this was my end and I was going to die there. His face was dark and his eyes were bulging out. I genuinely feared for my life. I did not see the knife. “If it were not for the actions of this stranger who got in
Khaled’s way and allowed me to flee with my nephew, I believe I would have been killed. I owe him my life to this day.” Mr Hussen said: “I really believe it was the defendant’s in- tention to kill the female. I did not consider my safety, only that I must stop this man. Only with hindsight I realise how terrifying it was.” Ahmed appeared for sentence via a video link on Tues- day 4 February from Bedford prison. He was jailed for a total of 18 years. Jailing him, Judge Michael Kay said Ahmed had shown “Nil remorse.” He said: “This was a horrific, extremely violent attack. It was entirely unpro- voked and left two people with very severe injuries, which have been life-changing.” When released, he said he expected Ahmed to be de-
ported. Mr Hussen is to be awarded £750. DC Marius Edghill, from the Watford Local Crime Unit, said: “This was a despicable attack which almost cost a woman her life. Thankfully, following extensive surgery, she has been able to recover from her injuries, but will never get over the emotional trauma of what happened to her. Her nephew has also been left with permanent injuries as a result. “I would like to com- mend the bravery of the taxi driver who stepped in to inter- vene on the night. If it hadn’t been for him, the outcome could have been very different.” Ahmed’s sentences will run consecutive- ly. He was sentenced to: ten years for the attack on the woman; five years for the attack on her nephew; three years for the attack on the taxi driver.
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