Maida Vale: Driver who killed London knife attacker to face no charges

Engineer, 26, left ‘traumatised’ by murder probe after attempting to save mother from abusive ex-husband

A driver who ran over a knifeman in an attempt to stop him stabbing his ex-wife to death in the street will face no further police action.

The 26-year-old, known only as Abraham, was arrested on suspicion of murder after he hit and killed Leon McCaskre as he attacked Yasmin Chkaifi, 43, in Maida Vale, west London, last week.

The Metropolitan Police have now confirmed he will face no further action after officers reviewed the law around self-defence and defence of another.

The engineer, who is married with young children, previously broke his silence to say his “instant thought” was to protect the mother of two as he drove his blue Renault Clio towards McCaskre and that he “only intended to protect those being attacked”.

In an interview with The Independent last week, Abraham’s lawyer Tasnime Akunjee said his client had been left “traumatised” by the murder probe.

The solicitor also revealed relatives of Ms Chkaifi, who praised the driver as a “hero” and called for his release, were in the process of arranging a private meeting with him.

“He is traumatised regarding the events,” Mr Akunjee said at the time.

“He doesn’t feel that he is a hero; he feels what he did was what anyone else would have done and should have done.

“He does not regret what he did; he stated the only regret he has is that he didn’t get there sooner.”

Abraham previously told how he had been driving to work at about 9am on 24 January when he witnessed McCaskre, 41, attacking Chkaifi in front of horrified onlookers in Chippenham Road just metres from both of their homes.

Yasmin Chkaifi, 43, died after being stabbed several times by her ex-husband Leon McCaskre in Maida Vale, west London (Family handout/Metropolitan Police)

But Chkaifi could not be saved, and both she and McCaskre died of their injuries at the scene.

It has since emerged the knifeman, who also went by the name McCaskie, was wanted by police after failing to turn up to court on 4 January over allegations he had breached a stalking order by approaching Chkaifi in west London on 29 July 2021.

Chkaifi’s family praised the driver as “our hero” and suggested he should receive an honour from the Queen – while more than 75,000 people signed an online petition calling for the investigation into his actions to be dropped.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Rawlinson, who has led the investigation for the Metropolitan Police, said: “Having reviewed the CCTV evidence and taken statements of numerous members of the public and attending officers, as well as reviewing the legal position regarding self-defence and defence of another, a decision has been taken that the driver of the car, a 26-year-old man will face no further police action.

“He is considered a vital witness to our investigation and will be offered support from professionals to help him come to terms with the terrifying situation he was confronted with.

“It is vitally important that when a person dies there is a thorough investigation into all of the circumstances and this has taken place. Such decisions must be thoroughly examined and while this process takes time this has been a priority for my team. The man’s legal advisors have been informed of this decision.

“Inquests have opened in relation to both deaths and my team will continue to work to provide evidence for the coroner. We continue to appeal for witnesses to this incident who have yet to speak to police to come forward and do so.”