Duane Owusu, 36, today, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of 27-year-old Zahwa Mukhtar, who was fatally struck in the neck and left to die on a London street.
Owusu received a minimum sentence of 16 years and six months at the Old Bailey after being found guilty of murder earlier this month.
The incident occurred in the early hours of August 16, 2025, following a night out at a rave. Owusu allegedly ejected Ms. Mukhtar from an overcrowded vehicle before delivering a single, lethal punch. Instead of calling for assistance, he fled the scene, an act captured on surveillance footage and witnessed by his shocked companions.
During the trial, eyewitness Paige Allen recounted Ms. Mukhtar’s desperate pleas for Owusu to stop before he attacked her. “He was consumed by rage. He looked like a monster. His actions were completely unjustified. She just fell backwards,” Allen stated. “I wanted to help her, but he yelled at me to get back in the car.”
Owusu denied throwing a punch during the proceedings, claiming he merely pushed Ms. Mukhtar away to calm the situation. He testified, “I didn’t think she was seriously hurt.”
Earlier today, Judge Richard Marks KC imposed a life sentence on Owusu, condemning his violent actions as “completely unjustifiable.” Despite appeals from his friends to assist Ms. Mukhtar, Owusu callously dismissed her plight, saying, “No one cares about her,” before driving off.
Judge Marks remarked, “While you may not have realized the severity of her injuries, your indifference is undeniable. You abandoned her alone on the ground at 4:30 AM, likely under the influence of alcohol and drugs, far from home and without any means of assistance. It is difficult to conceive of more selfish behavior.”
In a heartfelt statement presented to the court, Zahwa Mukhtar’s brother, Jamaluddin Mukhtar, described her as a remarkable individual who overcame significant challenges throughout her life. He shared that she became deaf at three due to meningitis but never allowed it to hinder her spirit.
“She was known for her constant smile and infectious laughter,” he said. “Her warmth and belief in others left a lasting impact on everyone who crossed her path. Losing her has created an immeasurable void in our lives, a beautiful and loving soul whose absence will be profoundly felt forever.”
In his defense, Michael Borrelli KC expressed Owusu’s deep remorse for the pain inflicted on Ms. Mukhtar’s family.
Jurors were not informed that Owusu had previously served eight years in prison for his role as a getaway driver in a failed robbery that resulted in the fatal stabbing of a shop manager. Released in 2013, he was on bail related to new drug charges at the time of Ms. Mukhtar’s death.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong