Brixton Slasher Jailed: Somalian Mohammed Nur’s Cowardly Refusal to Face Justice in Court

Hi and welcome to this Video Production News sentencing update:

A man who carried out a series of random, violent attacks which culminated in the murder of 31-year-old Johanita Dogbey in Brixton has been jailed following a hearing at the Old Bailey.

Mohammed Nur, 34 (26.05.89) of Bond Way, SW8 was sentenced to life with a minimum of 32 years on Thursday, 23 May.

Nur admitted to Johanita’s murder, possession of an offensive weapon, and possession of a pointed/bladed article at a hearing at the Old Bailey on 17 November 2023. On Monday, 13 May he was found guilty of three counts of unlawful wounding following a trial at the same court. These offences related to three assaults carried out in the space of five minutes in the Brixton area on 29 April 2023, two days before he attacked Johanita.

Nur's violent spree began on the night of 29 April, when he attacked three strangers within five minutes. Between 11:25 pm and 11:29 pm, he slashed the faces of Rebecca Wilkes, Tomasz Kmiecik, and Katie Matthews with a makeshift weapon composed of broken glass and rubber bands. The first victim, Wilkes, was approached from behind, grabbed by the face, and slashed, resulting in a 9 cm cut on her cheek. Minutes later, Kmiecik was similarly attacked, suffering a 15 cm facial wound. The third victim, Matthews, sustained a 6 cm cut to her face.

On 1 May, Nur escalated his violence by killing Johanita Dogbey in a random, unprovoked attack. Dogbey, who was on her way home after buying a birthday present for her mother, was walking along Stockwell Park Walk while talking to her grandmother on the phone. Nur, who had been lurking in the area, followed her before launching his assault. He grabbed Dogbey from behind and stabbed her three times in the neck with a makeshift blade. Despite her attempts to fend off the attacker, Dogbey collapsed and died at the scene. Members of the public who rushed to her aid could not save her.

Nur was arrested on 2 May following a stop and search by police in Brixton Hill. He was found in possession of another makeshift weapon and was wearing distinctive clothing that matched descriptions from CCTV footage of the attacks. Despite the evidence against him, including DNA on the weapon used to kill Dogbey and CCTV footage, Nur refused to cooperate with police and declined to attend his trial or sentencing hearings, saying there was "no point" in attending. He had to be questioned through the cell door opening and did not respond to police inquiries.

Judge Angela Rafferty, KC, condemned Nur's behavior, labeling his refusal to attend court as "clear contempt." She stated, "All of these victims were complete strangers to you. The savagery of your attack is hard to say in words. She [Dogbey] was in the prime of her life and now, with no warning whatsoever, she was killed in this vicious and horrifying attack.

You have never offered any explanation or remorse for this senseless killing. There was a deliberate decision to go out and target the innocent and the defenceless." The judge added that Nur’s refusal to attend court would not go unpunished, hinting at potential consecutive sentences for contempt of court. "We cannot have defendants in a case like this just not turning up to court without any penalty whatsoever," she emphasized.

The impact statements read in court highlighted the devastating effects of Nur’s actions on Dogbey's family. Her father, Yao Dogbey, described Johanita as "loving, kind, and humble," emphasizing the void her death has left in their lives. Johanita’s younger sister, Laura, struggled to find words to describe the heartbreak and trauma inflicted on their family. "To say that it broke me is an understatement," she said. "There were so many pieces of me that left when the police confirmed to my father the news that his pure, innocent, loving, selfless daughter had been murdered."

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Webb, who led the investigation, expressed hope that the conviction would provide some solace to the victims and their families. "Mohammed Nur has been jailed for four violent offences, carried out at random in terrifying circumstances. I realize nothing can alleviate the pain and suffering that Johanita's family continue to endure, but I hope they – and the three other people Nur attacked and injured – can take some comfort from the fact he has been convicted and will spend a lengthy period of time in prison."

Nur was born in Somalia and moved to south London in 1993. He went to college to study IT but dropped out when he began smoking cannabis. From December 2022 he was living on the streets addicted to drugs.

He has previous convictions for possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of a knife. When arrested on suspicion of dealing drugs and found with a knife he told the police: "I'm Somalian, people are always after me." In June 2022 he was arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill his sister but he was charged only with possession of a bladed article and drugs after a razor blade and cannabis were found in his pocket.

Nur had admitted murder in November, but a reporting restriction was put in place until the conclusion of his trial. Jurors were visibly shocked and distressed after the judge told them Nur had also committed a murder which was not revealed during the trial. He was convicted of three counts of wounding.

The life sentence handed down to Nur reflects the gravity of his crimes and the danger he poses to society. The proactive efforts of law enforcement officers were instrumental in apprehending Nur and bringing him to justice, ensuring that he can no longer pose a threat to innocent lives.

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.

Bénédict Tarot Freeman

Editor-at-Large

VPN City-Desk

citydesk@vpnldn.co.uk