Legal News
“Jealous” domestic abuser jailed for life for murder of former partner (23 May 2014)
Date: 23/05/2014
The family of a woman stabbed to death by her jealous former boyfriend in front of their two-year-old daughter has called for her killer to spend the rest of his life in jail.
David Gikawa, 39, was found guilty of murder by an Old Bailey jury on Wednesday (21/05/14) and was sentenced to life imprisonment by Judge Michael Topolski. The exact term Gikawa will serve will be determined later, but the family of his victim – 29-year-old model Linah Keza – say he should never be released.
Ms Keza endured three years of domestic abuse and was stabbed by her former partner Gikawa after he discovered she was seeing another man.
Ms Keza had sought a restraining order against Gikawa in the days leading up to her murder, but it could not be issued in time to save her. Gikawa broke into the former Miss Africa’s flat in Leyton, east London, the court heard – Ms Keza’s body was found lying in a pool of blood next to her daughter.
The Evening Standard reports Ms Keza had contacted police officers over fears for her personal safety in the run up to her death – the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has confirmed that four Scotland Yard Police Officers have been issues with misconduct notices. The IPCC said that one officer had been interviewed and three others were due to appear before the IPCC.
Gikawa denied murder and told police officers and the court that he acted in self- defence when he stabbed the mother of his child five times after breaking into her flat.
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