A man has been found guilty of murdering a woman in front of her three-year-old daughter during Notting Hill carnival’s family day last year.
Shakeil Thibou, 20, stabbed Cher Maximen, 32, in the groin, with her young daughter close by, on 25 August. He was found guilty of murder by a majority of 10 to two jurors on Wednesday.
Thibou was also convicted of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to 20-year-old Adjei Isaac with intent, which the prosecutor Ed Brown KC described as an “equally horrifying attack”, as well as having an offensive weapon.
The man’s brother Sheldon Thibou, 25, was found guilty of violent disorder and assaulting PC Oliver Mort, who tried to intervene.
A third brother, Shaeim Thibou, 22, was cleared of violent disorder but convicted of assaulting PC Mort. The jury deliberated for 50 hours and 33 minutes, with a shout of “yes” heard from Maximen’s family in court as the verdicts were delivered.
The Old Bailey heard that a disturbance broke out at about 5.48pm on the day between the defendants and at least two other men, close to where Maximen was standing.
The crowd parted as Sheldon Thibou got into a physical confrontation with the two men, prompting PC Mort to step in to break it up. Sheldon Thibou was said to have been holding a stun gun as he and Shaeim hit out at the officer.
Shakeil Thibou also thrust a “huge” knife repeatedly towards Isaac’s stomach, only missing him because the victim drew back. This led to Maximen being knocked to the ground and only partly getting to her feet, Brown said.
The mother appeared to lift her right leg at Shakeil Thibou, who raised the knife directly towards her and deliberately stabbed her in her groin, jurors heard.
Brown said: “The injuries inflicted on Ms Maximen were fatal – the defendant had killed her. It was a truly shocking attack, and regarded as such by those around it.”
The defendants, of Kensington, west London, had denied the charges against them, although Sheldon Thibou admitted having the stun gun. In his defence, Shakeil Thibou claimed he picked up the knife at the carnival and acted in self-defence against Isaac.
He claimed the death of Maximen was an accident, but the prosecution case claimed he brought the knife to the scene, and that another blade was found during a search of his room.
The judge set sentencing for Shakeil Thibou on 16 May. Emma Currie of the Crown Prosecution Service described the case as “profoundly tragic” and said the brothers’ actions showed no regards for the hundreds of people around them.
She said she hoped the verdicts would bring a sense of justice for the community and that the thoughts of the CPS remained with Maximen’s family and friends.
Currie said: “Cher was caught up in the panicked crowd caused by the actions of the Thibou brothers, who robbed her of her life and the chance to see her little girl grow up.”
