The Old Bailey witnessed a scene of raw emotion as Duane Owusu was convicted of the murder of Zahwa Mukhtar, a 27-year-old woman whose life was brutally cut short last August. The verdict followed a harrowing trial punctuated by a shocking outburst from the victim’s brother, Abas Mukhtar, who attempted to attack Owusu while he testified.
Jurors were deeply disturbed when Abas Mukhtar lunged at Owusu in the witness box, prompting the court to adjourn for the day. Judge Richard Marks KC, a veteran of countless trials, described the incident as “appalling” and nearly derailing the proceedings. It was a visceral display of grief and rage, a desperate attempt to confront the man accused of shattering his family.
The court heard how Zahwa Mukhtar’s life ended after a night that began with a rave in east London. She had encountered Owusu and his group, sharing laughing gas balloons before attempting to join them in an already overcrowded car heading towards Dagenham. A minor argument escalated into a nightmare.
During the journey, a dispute with one of Owusu’s friends led to a violent confrontation. He first threw Zahwa’s phone from the car, then ejected her onto the street. The prosecution detailed how he then delivered two kicks towards her face while she was still seated on the pavement.
Graphic CCTV footage captured the horrifying sequence of events. Witnesses described Owusu’s actions as fueled by pure rage, a monstrous display of aggression. Paige Allen, a witness, recounted Zahwa pleading for him to stop just moments before he delivered the fatal blow, describing her fall as simply…falling backwards.
Zahwa Mukhtar, a finance assistant at the Young Vic Theatre, was discovered unresponsive by police and paramedics at 5:31 am. Despite their desperate efforts, she was pronounced dead at 6:21 am, the victim of a fractured skull and devastating brain injury.
Owusu attempted to downplay his actions, claiming he only pushed Zahwa away to “de-escalate” the situation and insisting he didn’t believe she was seriously hurt. He portrayed himself as traumatized, asserting he never intended to cause her harm. But the evidence painted a starkly different picture.
The trial was further disrupted by Abas Mukhtar’s outburst, leading to a formal apology from the defense lawyer and a £1,000 fine for the grieving brother. Judge Marks acknowledged the intensity of the emotion, stating he had “never seen anything like it” in his years practicing law.
A chilling silence fell over the courtroom as the guilty verdict was delivered. Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke expressed his condolences to Zahwa Mukhtar’s family, emphasizing the “horrendous circumstances” of her death. He stated the CCTV evidence revealed Owusu to be a “remorseless killer” who acted with “callous disregard” for his victim.
