A young man has tragically passed away weeks after being involved in a violent street attack in London’s West End. The victim, identified as Taha Errami, aged 22, sustained a broken ankle during the incident on Shaftesbury Avenue, which reportedly involved three attackers on June 1. The Old Bailey court heard that an altercation initially occurred with Malachi Wilson, 32, before two other individuals, Devonta Rose, 20, and Dennis Kaantharasan, 25, joined in.
According to court proceedings, Mr Errami informed the police that he had been punched and kicked during the assault, which was not captured by CCTV cameras. Despite declining an ambulance, he sought medical attention for his ankle at St Thomas’s Hospital. Tragically, several weeks later on July 6, while travelling on a train into London, he fell severely ill and was rushed to St Mary’s Hospital in an unresponsive state and cardiac arrest. On July 23, he succumbed to complications associated with the broken ankle, including deep vein thrombosis.
The three alleged attackers, Rose, Kaantharasan, and Wilson, were apprehended on August 13 and charged with murder. During a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey, they confirmed their identities via a prison video link before Judge Rebecca Trowler KC. Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC disclosed that the local police had been looking into the incident as a suspected robbery, with the motive behind the assault remaining unclear.
Judge Trowler scheduled a plea hearing for November 4 and tentatively set a three-week trial to commence on May 19 the following year. The accused individuals were remanded into custody following the court appearance. The case has sparked widespread interest and concern, highlighting the need for justice and accountability in cases of violent crime.