Gore Video Obsessed Killer Detained Indefinitely After Stabbing Grandmother 18 Times

A man obsessed with violent "gore videos" who stabbed a grandmother to death at a London bus stop will be detained indefinitely in a secure psychiatric hospital, as the victim's family say "deeply troubling" questions remain about how the tragedy occurred.

Fatal Attack in Northwest London

Jala Debella, 24, who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, wandered from his supported living accommodation in Colindale on May 9, 2024, and attacked 66-year-old medical secretary Anita Mukhey at a bus stop on Burnt Oak Broadway in Edgware, northwest London.

The court heard how Debella stabbed Ms Mukhey at least 18 times in front of horrified witnesses, inflicting wounds to her heart and lungs that proved fatal within an hour of the attack. The victim and attacker were completely unknown to each other before the senseless violence unfolded.

Online Weapon Purchase and Violent Obsessions

Shockingly, despite living in Meridan House - a Care Quality Commission-registered residential rehabilitation home supporting people with mental health problems - Debella was able to purchase a 7.5-inch hunting knife with sheath from online store knifewarehouse.co.uk.

The weapon was delivered to his supported accommodation just one hour before he encountered Ms Mukhey. Prosecutors revealed that another online knife retailer had previously declined to supply Debella after realising he lived in mental health accommodation.

The court was told Debella had viewed thousands of violent clips depicting extreme violence with knives and other weapons. Analysis of his computer revealed:

3,115 Google searches between May 6-9, 2024
325 searches related to knife companies
Repeated visits to the Xgore website featuring "gore videos and pictures updated in real time"
Searches for "killing videos" and "neck anatomy"
Multiple visits to Royal Mail tracking to monitor the knife delivery

Legal Proceedings and Family Concerns

Since the attack, Debella has been held at Ashworth maximum security hospital in Liverpool and was declared unfit to stand trial due to his mental illness. An Old Bailey jury was instead asked to determine whether he committed the acts as charged.

The jury unanimously found that he had after deliberating for less than an hour. Judge Philip Katz KC told jurors their decision would lead to "this defendant's continued detention in a secure hospital."

Ms Mukhey's family issued a powerful statement expressing grave concerns about systemic failures that allowed the tragedy to occur:

How a man with severe mental illness was assessed as psychologically stable while engaging in escalating violent behaviour
Why current risk assessment models failed to detect danger developing beyond clinical consultations
How someone in staffed, registered mental health accommodation could purchase weapons online and receive them there

The family stated: "That disconnect is hard to accept. It raises serious questions about how risk is assessed, and about whether current models are equipped to detect danger that develops beyond the spoken words of the consulting room."

Investigation Evidence and Aftermath

Police investigation revealed damning evidence against Debella:

CCTV footage showing him leaving the scene after the attack
Bloodstained Nike trainers under his bed containing DNA matching Ms Mukhey
The recovered hunting knife containing DNA from both Debella and the victim
Witness Stefan Dennis describing how he tried to save Ms Mukhey with CPR
Debella returning to his computer after the attack to search for "breaking news" and more gore videos

Dr Melanie Higgins from Ashworth Hospital described Debella as "exceptionally unwell, paranoid, delusional, perplexed and incongruous." Judge Katz will formally order his indefinite detention at a hearing tomorrow morning.

The case has highlighted critical questions about online weapon sales, mental health risk assessment, and public protection systems that the victim's family vow to pursue through future inquest proceedings.