Chukwuemeka Ahanonu, a Nigerian citizen, has been given a life sentence for killing Nila Patel, a 56-year-old woman, in Leicester, England.
A jury at Leicester Crown Court convicted Ahanonu, 24, guilty of the attack that happened on June 24, 2025, near Infirmary Road. He was jailed on Tuesday.
Leicestershire Police say that the tragedy happened after Ahanonu drove dangerously while high on cannabis. He was said to have changed lanes, ran red lights, and driven at people before smashing his car in the middle of the city.
He ran away from the crash and attacked Patel, who had just gotten off a bus and was walking home. She had a broken skull and brain damage, and she died two days later.
When police arrested him, they found that he had been using cannabis and had dealer bags worth more than £3,000 and three iPhones in his car. He had also already pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, having cannabis with the intent to sell it, and attacking an emergency worker after biting a female police officer.
While medical professionals tried to resuscitate the sufferer, security guards from the neighboring Leicester Royal Infirmary held Ahanonu down until police came. On June 26, 2025, he was arrested again on accusations of murder.
Detective Inspector Emma Matts, the Senior Investigating Officer, called the attack on an innocent woman “horrific, violent, and random.” She also said that the suspect was not known to the victim. She also praised people in the community for stepping in and helping both the victim and the police.
About the Author
