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Man stabbed schoolgirl to death Man stabbed schoolgirl to death
(about 1 hour later)
A brain-damaged man was responsible for killing his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend, an Old Bailey jury has decided.A brain-damaged man was responsible for killing his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend, an Old Bailey jury has decided.
Arsema Dawit was stabbed to death in a lift at the flats where she lived near Waterloo station, central London. Arsema Dawit was stabbed more than 30 times in a lift at the flats where she lived in Waterloo, central London.
Defendant Thomas Nugusse, 22, was unable to take part in the trial as he had suffered brain damage following a suicide attempt in prison. Defendant Thomas Nugusse, 22, was unable to take part in the trial because he had suffered brain damage in a suicide attempt in prison.
As a result, the jury was asked only to decide if Nugusse was responsible for the killing in June last year. Nugusse killed Arsema on 2 June 2008, despite warnings to police from her mother that he was dangerous.
Nugusse, of St Francis Way, Ilford, north-east London, was sent to a mental hospital without limit of time. As a result of Nugusse's injuries, the jury was asked only to decide if Nugusse was responsible for the killing in June last year.
He was initially charged with murder but due to the brain damage he suffered it was decided that he was unfit to plead. Nugusse, of Ilford, east London, was sent to a mental hospital without limit of time.
Consequently the jury were not allowed to return conventional innocent or guilty verdicts and instead found that Nugusse "committed the acts". He was initially charged with murder but because of the brain damage he suffered it was decided that he was unfit to plead.
Boyfriend's 999 stab confession She was my precious child and there are no words to express how I feel Tsehaynesh Medhani
Consequently the jury was not allowed to return conventional innocent or guilty verdicts and instead found that Nugusse "committed the acts".
Nugusse and Arsema had been in a relationship for two years but his behaviour became too much for her and she ended it.Nugusse and Arsema had been in a relationship for two years but his behaviour became too much for her and she ended it.
On 16 April 2008 he punched her at a McDonald's restaurant in Walworth, south-east London, blackening her eye, after she said hello to a male friend.On 16 April 2008 he punched her at a McDonald's restaurant in Walworth, south-east London, blackening her eye, after she said hello to a male friend.
Her mother, Tsehaynesh Medhani, called in the police, but Arsema was unwilling to file a formal complaint. Her mother, Tsehaynesh Medhane, called in the police, but Arsema was unwilling to file a formal complaint.
Arsema is believed to have returned from school when she was attacked. Threats to kill
The teenager died five weeks after her family made a complaint to the Metropolitan Police (Met). Mrs Medhane complained that officers had failed to save her daughter. An inquiry has been ordered by the Independents Police Complaints Commission.
An an internal inquiry into Arsema's death is being carried out by the force. She made a statement in which she said Nugusse had called threatening Arsema and said he would find her and kill her.
Mrs Medhane went to Kennington police station and asked officers to arrest him.
She told the judge in a statement: "I have lost hope. My daughter is constantly in my mind.
"She was my precious child and there are no words to express how I feel. The house feels empty."
Philip King QC, defending, said Nugusse was unlikely to ever be able to live an independent life.
The court heard shortly after Arsema was killed, on 2 June 2008, Nugusse made a 999 call in which he admitted having killed her. He was arrested shortly after.
While on remand he tried to hang himself and suffered severe brain damage.
The jury had been shown CCTV footage of Nugusse following Arsema towards her home and also heard a tape of the 999 call in which Nugusse admitted killing her.
Outside of court, Det Insp Clive Heyes said: "It is a tragic set of circumstances and a horrible crime."
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Boyfriend's 999 stab confession