"Jealous Fury Unmasked: Knife Killer's Manipulation of Psychiatry Exposed, Justice Triumphs Despite Attempts to Evade Accountability"

In a chilling tale of jealousy and violence, Oscar Castano-Colque, 21, faced trial for the brutal murder of Rafioullah Malik, 25, aboard a bustling London bus. The tragic incident, occurring on February 28th last year, sent shockwaves through the city, laying bare the dire consequences of unchecked rage.

At the heart of the courtroom drama was the tumultuous relationship between Castano-Colque and his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sanaa Taha, aged 17. Despite bearing the killers unborn child, Taha had recently and dramatically ended their relationship upon discovering Castano-Colque's gross infidelity.

The audacious and brutal assault transpired subsequent to Sanaa Taha discovering Castano-Colque's infidelity and promptly ending their relationship. Despite Taha's adamant declarations of 'I don't want you' and 'Move on', along with blocking Castano-Colque's number, he persisted in professing his love for her and demanding reconciliation. Resorting to a new mobile phone, he persisted in sending messages in a relentless pursuit to reunite.

Minutes before 8pm on the night of the assault, Ms. Taha sent a text message to Castano-Colque stating 'Am gonna meet my Daddy now', referring to her new boyfriend, Mr. Malik. According to prosecutor Edward Brown KC, although the two had been acquainted for months, there had been no hint of romance until after Ms. Taha severed ties with the love cheat Castano-Colque.

In the CCTV footage, Castano-Colque was captured on his bicycle, donning a distinct red jacket, near his residence in West London around 9:15 pm that evening. Subsequently, he appeared to have cycled to the West End, arriving at Oxford Circus approximately at 9:40 pm. According to Mr. Brown, other footage depicted Castano-Colque "constantly checking his phone" upon arrival.

Following an hour-long dining session at Angus Steakhouse, Ms. Taha and Mr. Malik boarded the top deck of a westbound 94 bus precisely at 10:10 pm. Witnesses observed them "hugging and being affectionate", with Mr. Malik seated by the window. Within a minute, unsettling footage captured Castano-Colque abandoning his bicycle on the pavement and boarding the bus, promptly tapping his card on the reader before heading upstairs.

Mr. Brown added, "How exactly he knew the precise whereabouts and movements of Ms. Taha and Mr. Malik, we the prosecution cannot ascertain – perhaps through an app - but he was aware of their location." Witnesses subsequently described Castano-Colque's entry onto the bus as 'agitated, with nervous energy, frantic, appearing to look for a specific person'.

Upon reaching the upper deck, Castano-Colque approached the couple and, without provocation, repeatedly stabbed Mr. Malik in the head for approximately 14 seconds, inflicting injuries that would later prove fatal. Throughout the assault, Castano-Colque remained devoid of emotion as the court viewed harrowing CCTV footage, capturing Mr. Malik's desperate attempt to shield his face while Ms. Taha intervened.

Some witnesses initially mistook Castano-Colque's actions for a punch, while others witnessed him extracting the knife from his sleeve. Passengers also overheard Castano-Colque uttering something 'aggressive' towards Mr. Malik, although the exact words were indiscernible.

The courtroom fell silent as the footage of the assault played from various angles. Blood spurted from Mr. Malik's head, prompting shocked passengers to leap from their seats and retreat in horror. Subsequently, Castano-Colque fled downstairs, with Ms. Taha and a disoriented Mr. Malik following suit, the latter clutching the side of his head.

Upon descending to the lower deck, Castano-Colque forcefully banged on the bus door, demanding to disembark. Witnesses recounted hearing Ms. Taha's exclamation, 'What the hell are you doing?' to which Castano-Colque retorted, 'I'm dangerous'.

Mr. Brown characterized the attack as 'vicious and determined', attributing it to Castano-Colque's seething resentment towards his ex-girlfriend's newfound relationship. "Mr. Malik perished for no other reason than his association with the young woman whom the defendant believed belonged to him. It was jealousy that propelled the defendant to commit this fatal act against Ms. Taha's companion that fateful night," Mr. Brown concluded.

Following the bus driver's halt, Castano-Colque swiftly disembarked, with Ms. Taha in tow, and proceeded down Oxford Street. He disposed of the knife in a nearby bin before venturing into Swallow Passage, an adjacent alleyway, where he discarded his blood-soaked red jacket over some hoardings into a building site.

Both items were later recovered by law enforcement and linked to Castano-Colque through forensic DNA analysis. Mr. Brown underscored Castano-Colque's calculated actions, citing his 'presence of mind' in attempting to conceal evidence.

Subsequently, Castano-Colque and Ms. Taha boarded the London Underground from Oxford Circus to Uxbridge Road. CCTV footage captured Castano-Colque's entry into a Sainsbury's around 10:40 pm, where he discarded a black jumper. Following this, Castano-Colque proceeded to his hostel room on Wood Lane before arranging transportation via taxi to a family member's residence.

Meanwhile, Mr. Malik received initial treatment from a passenger with first-aid knowledge, who applied pressure to his head wound. Subsequently, paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance arrived and promptly transported him to the hospital. The following morning, with Mr. Malik fighting for his life, Oxford Street bore witness to a scene shrouded in police tape, with the bloodied remnants of the number 94 bus left in the roadway.

Mr. Malik slipped into a deep coma in intensive care, succumbing to blood loss from one slash and three stab wounds. Among these injuries, a 6.5cm stab wound to his left temple, severing his carotid artery, proved fatal, leading to blood loss to the brain stem and subsequent multiple organ failure. Despite being kept on life support for approximately three weeks, the decision was made to withdraw life support on March 21 last year.

Following the attack, Castano-Colque, while in hiding in Camberwell, received a BBC News screenshot from Ms. Taha regarding the Metropolitan Police manhunt for the assailant. Castano-Colque's response, 'Ride or die', was interpreted by Mr. Brown as a reference to their mutual commitment to stand by each other, regardless of circumstances.

Subsequently, Castano-Colque was apprehended for attempted murder and taken to Walworth police station, where he opted to remain silent during questioning. Following Mr. Malik's demise, Castano-Colque faced charges of murder and possession of a bladed article at Croydon Magistrates' Court. Prior to the scheduled trial in February of the current year, Castano-Colque pleaded guilty to both charges.

While in custody awaiting trial, Castano-Colque deceived a psychiatrist by alleging auditory hallucinations. Despite being declared 'unfit to plead' on four occasions leading up to the scheduled trial on February 9 this year, recordings of Castano-Colque's coherent phone conversations in prison compelled his defense team to discard Dr. White's assessment.

Throughout the trial, Castano-Colque's attempts to manipulate psychiatric evaluations were met with skepticism. Despite further claims of psychosis, expert analysis revealed a calculated individual driven by jealousy and rage, rather than mental illness.

In delivering the verdict, Judge Peter Gower delivered a scathing rebuke, condemning Castano-Colque's actions as "savage and sustained." He emphasized the premeditated nature of the attack, highlighting Castano-Colque's calculated decision to arm himself with a knife and target Malik. The severity of the sentence, life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years and six months, underscored the gravity of the crime and the need for uncompromising justice.

As London grapples with the aftermath of this senseless tragedy, Video Production News remains committed to presenting the facts with journalistic integrity and clarity. Our coverage aims to shed light on the darkest corners of society while championing justice and accountability.

In reporting on cases like these, Video Production News stands united in its pursuit of a safer and more just London for all. Through clear and concise journalism, we aim to provide our audience with the in-depth details and analysis they deserve, without shying away from the awkward questions or difficult conversations!

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