Somalian asylum seeker who killed pensioner in Remembrance Sunday stabbing that injured two others avoids jail

New Dispatch Published Jul 22, 2026 Reviewed Jul 23, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

Musse Ali, a 68-year-old Somalian asylum seeker, stabbed three people—including 77-year-old Hilkiah McLeggan, who died—during a daylight attack at East Street market in Lewisham, London, on Remembrance Sunday 2024, using a 25cm knife stolen from a shop in south-east London.

68 years · Musse Ali77 years · Hilkiah McLeggan45 years · Ho Man Yau56 years · Baheru Nadew Bartura25 cm · knife3 victims · Musse Ali14 cm · stab wound depth

Prosecutor Allan Compton KC stated that Musse Ali stabbed Ho Man Yau three times—once in the arm near the armpit and twice in the upper chest near the armpit—during the attack at East Street market.

3 stab wounds · Ho Man Yau

Musse Ali was sentenced to a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act with a restriction order under Section 41 after pleading guilty to manslaughter, possession of a knife, and two counts of wounding with intent.

2 counts · wounding with intent

Hilkiah McLeggan, 77, died at the scene at 11:27 after suffering a single stab wound to the back that penetrated the lung and liver to a depth of 14cm, despite resuscitation efforts by paramedics and police.

14 cm · stab wound depth11.27 · time of death

A Somalian asylum seeker who killed a pensioner in the Remembrance Sunday stabbing that injured two others have avoided jail.

Musse Ali, 68, stabbed his victims with a 25cm knife he had stolen from a shop in south-east London.

Shoppers could be heard screaming as Ali went on his furious rampage through East Street market, killing 77-year-old Hilkiah McLeggan.

The Somalian national stabbed Mr McLeggan after knifing the grandfather from behind during the broad daylight attack.

The 68-year-old also injured Ho Man Yau, 45, as well as accountant Baheru Nadew Bartura, 56, while brandishing the knife on Remembrance Sunday in 2024.

Other market-goers, who have since been hailed as heroes, tackled the asylum seeker to the floor, bringing his violent attack to a grounding halt.

After the migrant attacker admitted manslaughter, possession of a knife and two counts of wounding with intent, he was given a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act with a restriction order under Section 41.

Ali claimed to have a history of schizoaffective disorder before he fatally stabbed the innocent man. He also denied allegations of murder and attempted murder due to his disorder.

When he appeared at a hearing at the Old Bailey back in April, the criminal was described as "too unwell" to appear at previous court hearings.

The judge said the attack caused "serious alarm and distress" and said he was a "dangerous" individual.

Accepting the evidence of two experts, he added that "the reason Mr Ali behaved in the very violent way he did was because he was very unwell at the time".

Ali sought asylum in the UK in 1990 after being sentenced to prison for four years over guerrilla activity in Somalia.

Prosecutor Allan Compton KC said: "The defendant was seen stabbing three victims in quick succession as he moved through the market.

"The first was Ho Man Yau. As he was walking through the market pulling a wheeled carrier behind him the defendant came behind and stabbed him a number of times.

"There was a stab wound to his arm close to his armpit and two wounds to the upper chest close to the armpit."

In his witness statement Ho Man Yau said 'his eyes were staring at me and he looked crazy. His eyes were wide and scary looking directly at me. He looked unclean like he hadn’t had a shave or shower in a while'."

Ali "immediately ran along the street and came up behind another male" before the fatal stabbing while terrified shoppers could be heard screaming in fear.

Mr Compton added: “Having stabbed Mr Bartura the defendant ran a short distance and within three or four seconds he stabbed Mr McLeggan in the back.

"The wound was a single stab wound which penetrated between ribs and penetrated the lung and liver to a depth of 14cm.

"Despite the best efforts of paramedics and police who attended the scene the blood loss was too extensive and Mr McLeggan was pronounced dead at the scene at 11.27.

"The defendant also lunged to another member of the public with the knife and was chased by members of the public, at least one who had armed himself with a pole.

"He was disarmed and detained by passersby until police arrived and arrested him."

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