The family of a mother who was stabbed to death with a zombie knife in front of her three-year-old daughter at Notting Hill Carnival have said they will never recover from her death.
Cher Maximen, 32, was stabbed in the groin with a “huge” weapon during a melee at the Carnival on August 25 last year and died of her injuries six days later.
Ms Maximen’s young daughter was close by as the attack unfolded, and now a “village of aunties, uncles and Godparents” has promised to look after the child in the wake of her mother’s death.
The young girl, now four years old, will be raised by her great-grandmother, and Ms Maximen’s grandmother Vyleen Maximen.
Paying tribute to the 32-year-old, her grandmother described the pain of never hearing her key in the front door again.
In a heartbreaking statement written to her granddaughter Ms Maximen wrote: “Cher, my first born grandchild, my friend. I held you in my arms when you were born. 32 years of loving, of laughing, playing, crying and holidaying with you.
“I will no longer have that pleasure ever again. Not seeing you get married or have more children.
“Life will never be the same. Ever. We just have to live life, the best that we can and I will raise your daughter Cher, until my last breath.
“I will never hear your key opening my front door and shouting ‘Hello Nanny’.”
Members of Ms Maximen’s family shouted ‘yes’ as the guilty verdicts were delivered, after the jury deliberated on the case for more than 50 hours.
Ms Maximen’s relative and the Godmother to her child, TJ Jacobs, expressed “deepest gratitude to the jury for helping ensure justice is served for our beloved Cher Maximen – affectionately known to us as Princess Cher, Ri Ri, Churbs, Churburt, Cher Bear and Bear”.
She explained that the horrific murder had turned her family’s lives upside down and left them feeling “immeasurable sadness”.
But Ms Jacobs added that her family is determined to make sure Ms Maximen’s daughter receives “the love, support, and care she needs as we navigate life without her”.
The young girl, now four years old, was her mother’s everything, Ms Jacobs explained. “Her reason, her drive, and now her legacy. Cher’s unwavering devotion to her role as a mother was evident to all who knew her.”
Paying tribute to Ms Maximen, Ms Jacobs said: “Cher was pure magic – radiant, loving, passionate, and kind. She brought creativity, style and flawless flair to everything she did.
“She was a dedicated mother, a devoted granddaughter, niece, sister, and friend.
“This senseless act of violence has cut short a life that had so much more to offer the world and was only just beginning to blossom.”She described how life had not always been easy for Ms Maximen but she “was just discovering who she was and who she could become”.
Ms Jacobs continued: “Even when life felt unfair, Cher remained kind, caring, and a fierce protector of those she loved – qualities that were evident even in her final moments.
“Her smile lit up every corner of every room, and her laugh echoed through hallways.
“Her journey was an example of resilience against the odds, showing that no matter the challenges, young people can emerge with strength, determination, and the will to strive for better.”
The family also said they feel “heartfelt gratitude” to the emergency responders, medical professionals and law enforcement officers involved in the case.
Ms Jacobs also made a plea to the government to “urgently address” knife crime devastating communities across the UK.
She said: “The government must urgently address the root causes – the systemic failures in education, children’s services, youth services, mental health services impacting the many disengaged and disenfranchised young people.
“Offering them the tools to overcome challenges rather than fall victim to them. This is not just about reducing crime; it’s about saving lives, restoring hope, and building safer, stronger communities.”
