Nightmare of hero driver ‘treated like a murderer’
A HAVE-a-go hero who mowed down a knife killer has demanded to know why he is being treated as a murderer.
The driver, known only as Abraham, insisted he was trying to save motherof-two Yasmin Chkaifi, 43, when he drove into her maniac ex-husband Leon McCaskre, 41.
Abraham, 26, described “living in a nightmare” yesterday as more than 35,000 people signed an online petition demanding authorities do not put him on trial over his actions on Monday morning.
Calling on Scotland Yard chiefs to “de-arrest him”, Abraham said: “I am deeply sorry the man I tried to stop from attacking other people has died.
“I did not intend to harm the attacker, I only intended to protect those being attacked.”
Abraham – who Yasmin’s family described as a “hero” – added: “I do not see why I, as the person who was trying to assist in the defence of other human beings, remain arrested and on bail under suspicion of murder.”
His comments came as it emerged McCaskre had been due in court yesterday for breaching a stalking order taken out to protect his victim.
The murder took place nearly three weeks after a warrant without bail was issued when McCaskre failed to appear in court on January 4.
He was accused of breaching an interim stalking protection order, which barred him from contacting his ex-wife Yasmin.
On Monday morning, McCaskre ambushed her in Maida Vale, north-west London, and stabbed her repeatedly.
Bystanders tried to intervene but backed off when McCaskre threatened them with a kitchen knife – before
‘I did not intend to harm the attacker, I only intended to protect those being attacked’
Chechen electrician Abraham, sitting in traffic nearby, drove at him in his blue Renault Clio.
McCaskre was knocked down, fatally wounded and left trapped under the car.
Paramedics battled to save him and Yasmin, but both died at the scene.
Abraham was arrested on suspicion of murder and has fully co-operated with police. He has been bailed until a date in late February.
His statement, posted by his solicitor MohammedAkunjee ofWaterfords Law, reads: “I am a person of good character. I have never been arrested before in my life. My instant thought was to protect the woman who had been stabbed and the public who were also being threatened.
“I understand that the police are doing their job and that my being arrested is not unusual.
“[But] I have asked my solicitor to contact the Metropolitan Police to request that they consider dearresting me and begin treating me as a witness to a tragic event rather than as a criminal as they currently are.”
As tributes were paid to Yasmin, who was a qualified childminder studying for a master’s degree, her family said: “She had a panic alarm in her house and [McCaskre] was extremely abusive. The police were aware of his abuse and social workers were involved.”
Scotland Yard is being probed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. A spokesman said: “We have received a referral from the Metropolitan Police regarding their contact with Yasmin Chkaifi prior to her death. We are currently assessing the available information.” The Metropolitan Police said it could not comment.