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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 more than 30 times in a lift at the flats where she lived in Waterloo, 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 because he had suffered brain damage in 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. |
| Nugusse killed Arsema on 2 June 2008, despite warnings to police from her mother that he was dangerous. | Nugusse killed Arsema on 2 June 2008, despite warnings to police from her mother that he was dangerous. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Nugusse, of Ilford, east London, was sent to a mental hospital without limit of time. | Nugusse, of Ilford, east London, was sent to a mental hospital without limit of time. |
| He was initially charged with murder but because of the brain damage he suffered it was decided that he was unfit to plead. | He was initially charged with murder but because of the brain damage he suffered it was decided that he was unfit to plead. |
| She was my precious child and there are no words to express how I feel Tsehaynesh Medhani | 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". | 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 Medhane, 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. |
| Threats to kill | Threats to kill |
| Mrs Medhane complained that officers had failed to save her daughter. An inquiry has been ordered by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. | |
| TEENAGE DEATHS Full list of teenagers violently killed in the UK since January 2008 | |
| She made a statement in which she said Nugusse had called threatening Arsema and said he would find her and kill her. | 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. | 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 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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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 | Boyfriend's 999 stab confession |