Mother vows to change law as satanic killer, 19, avoids whole life term
A “SATANIC” killer who murdered two sisters has escaped a whole life term in prison because he is too young, but their mother has promised to campaign to change the law.
Danyal Hussein, 19, murdered Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, in a “shocking and chilling attack” in June last year, as the pair celebrated Ms Henry’s birthday.
Mrs Justice Whipple yesterday condemned the killings of these “beautiful and gifted women” as the “most harrowing” of cases and sentenced Hussein to life with a minimum term of 35 years for each murder, to be served concurrently.
She was unable to hand down a whole life order for the killings because Hussein is under 21.
The sisters’ mother Mina Smallman criticised the response of the police when her daughters were reported missing on the evening of June 6 last year, prompting an apology.
Outside the Old Bailey, she said: “Come 35 years’ time, they won’t let him out. I won’t let them let [him] out.” She hinted at plans to campaign against current age limits in place for criminal sentencing, saying: “I think we do need to review that kind of separation – when someone is an adult.
“I think it’s very disrespectful to say that children can’t tell the difference between good and evil. So that’s something else I will be campaigning about.” Hussein’s defence lawyers argued for leniency on the sentence because he had only just turned 18 when the murders were committed, meaning he “was in fact a little more than a child”.
The Government is attempting to lower the age at which whole life terms can be given to 18 in the Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill which is currently going through Parliament.
Hussein targetted the sisters after they spent the day with friends in Fryent Country Park in Wembley, northwest London.
Officers believe Hussein watched them for some time before stabbing Ms Henry eight times and Ms Smallman 28 times in a “frenzied and relentless” attack.
The sisters were reported missing the following day and their bodies were discovered by family and friends.
The court was told Hussein was referred to Prevent, the Home Office’s anti-radicalisation programme, by his teachers in October 2017.
But shortly after he was discharged he became “fascinated by demons” and pledged to “perform a minimum of six sacrifices every six months” and to “sacrifice only women”.
Hussein, who was appearing virtually from prison because of Covid restrictions, turned his chair away from the courtroom as he was sentenced.