A 24-year-old Nigerian man, Chukwuemeka Michael Ahanonu, has been found guilty of murdering a 56-year-old woman he randomly attacked on a street in Leicester, United Kingdom, shortly after crashing his car while under the influence of cannabis.
The victim, Nila Patel, was attacked on the late afternoon of Tuesday, June 24, 2025, along Infirmary Road. Moments before the incident, Ahanonu had been driving dangerously through the city centre, swerving across lanes, running traffic lights, and heading toward pedestrians and a bus stop.
Patel had been on a bus at the time of the crash and had just alighted to walk home when she was attacked. She was described by her family as a “beautiful, vibrant soul” and “one of the most kind-hearted people.”
Security personnel from Leicester Royal Infirmary quickly intervened, restraining the suspect until police arrived. Medical staff also rushed to assist Patel, who sustained severe injuries, including a fractured skull and brain trauma. She died two days later in hospital.
Ahanonu was initially arrested at the scene, and an investigation was launched by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit Major Incident Team. Following Patel’s death on June 26, he was re-arrested on suspicion of murder.
On Monday, March 23, 2026, after a trial at Leicester Crown Court, a jury found Ahanonu guilty of murder.
At the start of the trial, he had already pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, and assaulting an emergency worker. Police recovered cannabis valued at over £3,000 from his vehicle, along with three mobile phones linked to him. He was, however, cleared of a separate common assault charge related to an earlier incident in London.
Investigations revealed that Ahanonu had travelled from London to Leicester on the morning of the incident. CCTV footage showed him leaving his residence around 5:28 p.m. and driving through the city shortly before the crash, which occurred minutes later near a bus stop where members of the public were waiting.
He remains in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday.