A man who punched and kicked a chef near the Notting Hill Carnival last August before leaving him dying in the street to go clubbing has been jailed for murder.
31-year-old Omar Wilson was captured on CCTV heading to a nightclub immediately after the violent attack.
Jailed - Omar Wilson
The jury at the Old Bailey heard how both men had been in the area to attend the carnival and crossed paths later in the evening.
CCTV footage of the attack was played in court and showed the moment Wilson approached Mussie Imnetu and head butted him.
Wilson then continued his attack, hitting Mussie a further five times until he fell to the floor, where Wilson continued to punch and kick his defenceless victim, who had not struck him once.
The court heard how Mussie had collapsed and was motionless, dying from a bleed on his brain caused by the blows Wilson had inflicted.
Detectives were able to use the footage alongside DNA from a pair of sunglasses dropped at the scene to prove that Wilson was responsible for killing Mussie Imnetu.
Wilson of Napier Road, Leytonstone, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after being found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey.
Murdered - Mussie Imnetu
Mussie, who was 41 and visiting the UK from Dubai where he lived and worked, was found unconscious with a head injury in Queensway, W2 at 23:22hrs on Monday, 26 August 2024.
Officers were on the scene in seconds and provided emergency first aid until paramedics arrived. Mussie was taken to hospital where, despite the best efforts of medical staff, he sadly died on 30 August 2024.
Wilson claimed that he attacked Mussie in self-defence, however he was found guilty of murder by a jury majority.
After the attack Wilson quickly left the area, actively avoiding police officers as he did so. He then travelled across London to attend a nightclub on Gaunt Street, SE1. This was only about an hour-and-a-half after his attack on Mussie.
Although Wilson fled the scene, he dropped his sunglasses and house and car keys. Officers were able to recover his DNA from the sunglasses, and the keys were a perfect fit for his house and car. Careful analysis by officers of his phone usage placed Wilson in the area of Queensway at the time of the murder.
DNA from a pair of sunglasses dropped at the scene proved Wilson was responsible for killing
Officers were also able to piece together a puzzle of CCTV which showed the attack and Wilson’s subsequent journey to the nightclub on Gaunt Street.
The jury were also shown messages sent by Wilson to friends in the aftermath of the attack. In one of them he said: “There’s a monster in me ... and it’s just like sometimes it comes out. And I think I’ve messed up now … and everything’s finished” and “I’ve f***** up … I crossed the line and went overboard. I don’t think I can come back from this mistake … I’m going jail in the morning”.
In another he said that “I did the hands ting…finished one guy man” and was told by a friend to “get a solicitor and use your ADHD.”
Wilson was arrested on Wednesday, 28 August 2024 and charged the following day.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts very much remain with Mussie’s family and friends in Dubai, Sweden and London. Mussie was a loving husband, father, son and a respected chef. He was in London for a few days to help train his colleagues and went out that evening to enjoy the post Notting Hill Carnival atmosphere, where tragically he was violently assaulted.”
Samantha Yelland, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Our thoughts remain with Mussie Imnetu’s devastated family and friends who loved him dearly, as well as those who had to witness the shocking attack that evening.
"Omar Wilson’s savage violence ultimately took the life of a much-loved man, and the Crown Prosecution Service was determined that he should face justice.
"The evidence in this case was overwhelming, with high-quality CCTV footage showing Wilson attacking the victim. While Wilson tried to claim his actions were in self-defence, the evidence clearly showed that he was the only person acting violently.
"I hope today’s verdict – which will see Wilson put behind bars for the murder – provides some comfort to those who now have to live a life without Mussie."