A DRUG dealer high on cannabis stamped a mother to death moments after flipping his BMW, a court has heard.
Chukwuemeka Ahanonu, 23, unleashed a brutal attack on Nila Patel, 56, in “broad daylight” after he crashed his car in Leicester last year.
Benefits claimant Ahanonu, who earned £10,000 a month selling drugs, flipped his car near to Leicester Royal Infirmary on June 24, reports MailOnline.
He emerged from the wreckage of his BMW unscathed before he targeted Nila at random, punching her and stamping on her head.
She tragically died two days later in hospital after suffering devastating injuries to her brain.
Mary Prior opened the case for the prosecution at Leicester Crown Court on Monday and said the victim, who was just 5ft 4in, was “viciously attacked by this defendant”.
“He was a complete stranger to her. This happened in broad daylight in Leicester city centre,” she said.
“She had just got off the bus on her way home and was walking along the road, talking on the telephone to her dear friend.
“She was pulled from behind by the defendant, punched in the face with such severity that she fell on to the pavement. She was then kicked and stamped on as she lay on the floor – stamped on her face.”
She added that Nila did not do anything to provoke the attack and “could not defend herself”.
Ahanonu, of Leicester, has denied murdering Nila but pleaded guilty to manslaughter, claiming diminished responsibility.
The court heard how Ahanonu was receiving universal credit while running a “significant business” selling cannabis where he could earn up to £10,000 a month with over 250 customers.
This paid for his accommodation, BMW, living expenses and his own habit of using the drug.
The court was told how he “had smoked lots of cannabis” prior to the attack.
Ms Prior continued to tell the court Ahanonu’s car was “driven dangerously” causing it to flip before he got out and “ran up the middle of the road towards Nila and attacked her”.
Body-worn camera footage and footage from horrified onlookers was reportedly captured with Ms Prior saying the court will be calling evidence from eyewitnesses.
The trial is expected to last a month as the prosecution outlined the issues for consideration by the jury.
Ms Prior said she thinks the defence will attempt to argue Ahanonu was developing schizophrenia.
But she hit back saying “voluntary consumption” of a substance that causes someone to act in such a way was not a defence as “intoxicated intent is still an intent”.
Nila’s son Jaidan Patel and daughter Danika Patel paid a heartbreaking tribute to their mother following the horrific attack last year, describing her as “one of the most kind-hearted people you could ever meet”
“We are heartbroken, but we want the world to know who our mum truly was – a beautiful, vibrant soul who deserved so much more.
“She was a devoted mother, a loyal friend, and an incredibly hard worker.”
