Family of murdered Johanita Kossiwa-Dogbey question year long wait for trial
The family of Johanita Kossiwa Dogbey, who was murdered in a suspected stranger attack, have questioned why they must wait a year for the suspect to go on trial.
The 31-year-old was stabbed to death in broad daylight reportedly while on the phone to her grandmother as she walked along Stockwell Park Walk, Brixton on May 1.
Mohamed Nur, 33, of Bondway in Vauxhall, has been charged with her murder, but his Old Bailey trial is not due to begin until April 29 next year.
Vauxhall MP, Florence Eshalomi, spoke in the House of Commons on Tuesday about the pain felt by Ms Dogbey’s family.
She said: “As I held her mother yesterday, trying to console her, she asked me why her family had to wait over a year to get justice.
“Every day my constituents have to wait is a sentence for them?”
Johanita Dogbey was brutally murdered in Brixton on 1 May.
The trial is not expected to start for a year. That her family & loved ones have to wait that long to get basic justice is plainly wrong.
The court backlog has real emotional consequences for victims. Govt must act. pic.twitter.com/kwgJfrAYHC
— Florence Eshalomi MP (@FloEshalomi) May 16, 2023
Ms Dogbey was the founder of a charity that helped people suffering with sickle cell disease.
At the time of her murder she was on her way to a birthday celebration at her flat where she lives with her mother, father, brother and sister.
Her family released a tribute after her death, they said: “Our hearts are completely broken and will not understand why someone would take our beautiful girl away from us.
“She will forever be in our hearts as we will carry on living life as gracefully and beautifully as she did.”
Ms Eshalomi tweeted on Tuesday: “That her family and loved ones have to wait that long to get basic justice is plainly wrong.
“The court backlog has real emotional consequences for victims.”
At the Old Bailey, Nur was also charged with a further count of possession of an offensive weapon and three counts of causing grievous bodily harm against two women and a man.
The two women and a man suffered slash injuries in separate incidents in Town Hall Parade, Brixton Road and Acre Lane in Brixton, two days before Ms Dogbey was murdered.
A plea hearing has been set for July 25, and a provisional three-week trial at the Old Bailey from April 29, 2024.
Pictured top: Johanita Kossiwa Dogbey (Picture: Met)