Pictured, the mum in deadly have-a-go hero car tragedy
Victim was knifed in street by her stalker ex-husband
A MOTHER of two was knifed to death by her stalker ex-husband on a busy street weeks after a warrant had been issued for his arrest.
Relatives of Yasmin Wafah Chkaifi, 43, yesterday praised a vigilante Renault Clio driver as a ‘hero’ for ploughing into Leon Mccaskie as he was carrying out the savage attack.
They called for police to drop its investigation into the motorist over Mccaskie’s death and suggested that he should instead be given a bravery award.
The family criticised the Metropolitan Police, accusing the force of doing nothing to help Miss Chkaifi despite repeated warnings she was being intimidated by her ex, a past offender.
She had secured a restraining order against the 40-year-old former company director after the breakdown of their two-year marriage and had a panic alarm fitted in her flat in Maida Vale, west London. A warrant for Mccaskie’s arrest was issued only three weeks ago after he failed to appear before Westminster magistrates accused of breaching the stalking order, issued in April.
In July he allegedly broke it by turning up at his ex-wife’s home.
Mccaskie, who in 2017 was convicted of obstructing police and driving without insurance, lived only 350 yards from the flat where Miss Chkaifi, a mature student of Moroccan descent, lived with her two sons aged 16 and 18. The attack at 9am on Monday occurred as children made their way to a nearby school. Bystanders tried to stop him as he stabbed Miss Chkaifi around a dozen times with a 4in kitchen knife while shouting ‘take it, take it’.
The driver managed to end the attack by running over Mccaskie on the pavement. Both the knifeman and his victim died at the scene. Witnesses told how the shocked motorist could be heard saying ‘What have I done?’ after the incident, only to be reassured that he had done the right thing.
One of Miss Chkaifi’s sons, who asked not to be named, said his mother had lived in fear of Mccaskie since their separation three years ago. He told MailOnline: ‘It was a very abusive relationship which got worse after the divorce. My mother was continually being harassed and intimidated. He made her life hell.
‘I was always in touch with the police but they did nothing to help. There was even a panic alarm installed in our flat – that’s how scared she was of this man. He was a monster.
‘He was ordered to keep away from her but recently had started stalking her, which got worse over the past few weeks. The whole family was worried because he could be very violent. The police should have done something when he didn’t turn up to court.’
Scotland Yard last night said the case had not been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct but remained under review.
Miss Chkaifi, who is believed to have worked at a school, was a ‘beautiful, wonderful girl’ her heartbroken aunt Haida said.
Her family heaped praise on the 26-year-old motorist who intervened only to be arrested on suspicion of murder afterwards.
‘He’s a hero and our family would like to meet him to express our gratitude,’ Miss Chkaifi’s cousin Hafiza said. ‘This man should not be arrested but given an award.’
The Met said the driver had been released on bail until late February. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Rawlinson said ‘all the circumstances’ would be investigated.