Man who killed grandfather in knife attack on Remembrance Sunday sectioned

A man with schizoaffective disorder who killed a grandfather in a random knife attack on Remembrance Sunday has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order.

Musse Ali, 67, who was homeless when the attack took place on Sunday 10 November 2024 in East Street market in Walworth, south London, killed Hilkiah McLeggan, 77, and wounded two others.

Ali, who was born in Somalia but moved to the UK in 1990 after seeking political asylum, was not taking his medication at the time of the attack.

He was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Wednesday after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility, wounding with intent and having an article with a blade.

In a tribute, Mr McLeggan's grieving relatives said Ali "stole a precious, courageous, supportive and loving person when he carried out this atrocious and selfish act".

"Our dad was not ready to go, nor were we prepared to lose him in such a cruel way," they added.

"We didn't get to hug him; tell him we loved him one last time or say goodbye."

His Honour Judge Nigel Lickley KC said Ali was "mentally very unwell at the time" and that his illness was "the main driver in his horrific offending that day".

The judge said that Ali's offending caused "serious alarm and distress" and that there is "no doubt" that he is a "dangerous" individual.

Ali, wearing a grey t-shirt and black jacket, was sentenced to a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act with a restriction order under Section 41.

How the attack unfolded

The court heard that after arriving at the market by bus on the day of the attack, Ali entered a shop and stole a knife.

The shopkeeper initially thought Ali was stealing vapes and, after pushing him out of the building, realised he was holding a blade.

Once outside, Ali randomly stabbed three people in "quick succession", it was heard.

His first victim, Ho Man Yau, had been walking through the market when Ali "ran at him" and "stabbed him a number of times".

In a witness statement, he said Ali looked "crazy" and that his eyes were "wide and scary".

After stabbing Mr Yau, Ali subsequently attacked Baheru Nadew Bartura and Mr McLeggan with the blade, which was 20 to 25cm in length.

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Ali also "lunged" at other members of the public with the weapon before he was ultimately disarmed, it was heard.

The court heard that Mr Bartura has needed extensive medical treatment since the attack, which saw him suffer a deep penetrative wound to his chest.

In a victim impact statement, the father said that without the support of his family, he would be housebound due to the "overwhelming anxiety, post-traumatic stress and a constant fear of being attacked again".

The responsible clinician for Ali - who was lost to services at the time of the incident - told the court that the defendant has a "serious and treatment-resistant" form of schizoaffective disorder.

He said that in his view, Ali would not have offended and the event would not have taken place if he did not suffer from the illness.

(c) Sky News 2026: Man who killed grandfather in knife attack on Remembrance Sunday sectioned