A drug dealer who stamped a mother to death in a random attack while high on cannabis has been convicted of her murder.
Chukwuemeka Ahanonu, 24, launched a vicious assault on 56-year-old mother Nila Patel moments after flipping his BMW on its roof in broad daylight in a city centre.
The killer had only been released from prison on licence a year before the attack on stranger Mrs Patel, his trial heard.
She died in hospital two days after the June attack in Leicester City Centre, after sustaining brain damage.
Former university student Ahanonu, originally from Peckham, south-east London, had crashed his car after driving erratically and dangerously around the city centre – swerving across lanes, driving through traffic lights, and towards a bus stop where people were waiting and pedestrians crossing the road.
Ms Patel had just alighted from a bus and was walking home when Ahanonu attacked.
Security officers from the nearby Leicester Royal Infirmary had rushed out to the scene where they managed to restrain Ahanonu until police arrived.
Following his arrest, it was found Ahanonu had been smoking cannabis and had dealer bags of cannabis with him in the vehicle.
The victim was described as a ‘beautiful, vibrant soul’ and ‘one of the most kind-hearted people you could ever meet’ by her family had been on a bus in the area at the time of the collision.
Nila Patel, 56, was killed in a vicious attack by Chukwuemeka Ahanonu, 23, who was a stranger to her
Chukwuemeka Ahanonu, 24, was convicted of murder today at Leicester Crown Court
A court was told that Ahanonu was freed from a two-year sentence in July 2024, having been found with more than £1,000 in cash and a machete after going through a red light in September 2023.
Ahead of the trial, Ahanonu admitted dangerous driving, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, and assault of an emergency worker.
He also admitted manslaughter, but was convicted of murder today after a five week trial.
Ahanonu, of Leicester, is due to be sentenced on Tuesday.
Following the conviction, police released CCTV footage of Ahanonu’s erratic driving in the moments leading up to the attack on Mrs Patel, as well as bodworn camera footage of him running from the collision before he was later detained in the vicinity.
Leicestershire Police also released interview footage of him being asked about his driving, which he said he couldn’t remember, and the attack on Mrs Patel.
He told officers in relation to the attack: ‘I don’t remember killing her bro…I need to see it…I’ve never touched a woman in my life.’
Ms Patel, who was 5ft 4ins, ‘was viciously attacked’ by Ahanonu, prosecutor Mary Prior told the trial.
Ahanonu’s BMW 1 Series veers out of control on to an island at a junction, demolishing railings
The car then flips on to its roof and hits a second set of railings at the roadside
The prosecutor said of Ahanonu: ‘He was a complete stranger to her. This happened in broad daylight in Leicester city centre.
‘She had just got off the bus on her way home and was walking along the road, talking on the telephone to her dear friend.
‘She was pulled from behind by the defendant, punched in the face with such severity that she fell on to the pavement. She was then kicked and stamped on as she lay on the floor… stamped on the face.
‘She did nothing to cause the attack and could not defend herself.’
The court heard Ahanonu was almost four times the legal driving limit for cannabis. No alcohol was found in a blood sample taken around three hours after the alleged murder.
The trial heard that the defendant paid for his flat, his BMW, his living expenses and drug use by selling cannabis. Ms Prior said Ahanonu received universal credit and earned £10,000 a month selling drugs while on benefits.
The court heard he crashed his car outside Leicester Royal Infirmary at 5.32pm after veering on to the wrong side of the road and crashing through railings.
Ms Patel, who was on a bus on the road at the time and speaking to a friend on the phone, had seen the collision and had therefore stepped off the bus outside the LRI at 5.33pm to walk home.
It was a short distance later that the defendant was then seen to violently attack Ms Patel who fell to the ground. Witnesses reported Ahanonu punching, kicking and stamping on Ms Patel.
Following his arrest, Ahanonu told police he could only remember the collision and could not remember attacking Ms Patel.
Detective Inspector Emma Matts, the Senior Investigating Officer for Leicestershire Police, said: ‘Ahanonu was unknown to Ms Patel. After crashing his vehicle, he ran from the scene violently attacking Ms Patel.
‘This was the most horrific, violent and random attack by a stranger on a kind, gentle and loving woman who was simply making her way home.
‘It is hard to imagine what Ms Patel went through in those moments. My thoughts continue to remain with her and with her family and friends who have suffered and continue to suffer the most horrendous distress and pain.’
She described Ahanonu’s driving in the moments before the collision as ‘frightening and disturbing’.
Ahanonu was given a suspended sentence in June 2023 after being convicted of possession with intent to supply cannabis at his university flat, the trial was told.
His car was then stopped by police in August 2023 and again in September 2023, with officers finding a machete and cannabis in his vehicle during the second stop.
Ahanonu was jailed for 24 months for offences including possession of a bladed article and breaching a suspended sentence order.
This meant Ahanonu was on licence at the time he attacked Ms Patel.
Junior prosecution counsel Caroline Bray told jurors earlier this month: ‘His licence began on his release from custody on July 19, 2024. It was due to end on September 20, 2025.’
