A Nigerian drug dealer, Chukwuemeka Ahanonu, has been found guilty of murdering a 56-year-old woman, Nila Patel, following a violent attack in Leicester, United Kingdom.
The verdict was delivered on Monday at Leicester Crown Court, where the 24-year-old, who had earlier admitted to manslaughter, was convicted of murder by a jury. He is expected to be sentenced on Tuesday.
The court heard that the incident occurred on June 24 near the Leicester Royal Infirmary after Ahanonu crashed his car while driving recklessly through the city centre.
Witnesses said he had been swerving across lanes and running traffic lights moments before the crash, raising concerns about his state of mind at the time.
After abandoning his vehicle, Ahanonu reportedly fled the scene and attacked Patel, a passerby unknown to him, in what prosecutors described as a random and unprovoked assault.
Security personnel at the hospital later restrained him until police officers arrived, while medical workers rushed the victim for treatment.
Patel sustained severe injuries, including a fractured skull and brain damage, and was pronounced dead two days later in hospital.
Investigations revealed that Ahanonu had been smoking cannabis prior to the incident, and police discovered packaged quantities of the substance in his car, suggesting intent to distribute.
The court was also told that the convict was on licence from a previous 24-month prison sentence for offences including possession of a bladed weapon and breach of a suspended sentence order.
He had admitted to charges of dangerous driving, possession of cannabis with intent to supply, and assaulting an emergency worker, but denied the murder charge on grounds of diminished responsibility.
However, the jury rejected his defence after hearing that he declined to testify during the trial, although he had earlier claimed in police interviews that he could not recall attacking the victim.
Reacting to the verdict, Detective Inspector Emma Matts described the incident as a “horrific and senseless act of violence,” noting that the victim was simply on her way home when she was attacked.
She said the tragic loss had left the victim’s family devastated, adding that the pain and trauma from the incident would remain with them for a long time.
In an emotional tribute, Patel’s children, Jaidan and Danika, described their mother as a caring and selfless woman who always put others first.
They lamented that she had so much life ahead of her, expressing grief that she would never witness milestones such as retirement, becoming a grandmother, or sharing more moments with her loved ones.
They added that her memory, kindness, and love would continue to live on in their hearts despite the painful loss.
