logo
This is the horrific moment my granddaughter was murdered in front of her daughter, 3 – the image will haunt me forever

This is the horrific moment my granddaughter was murdered in front of her daughter, 3 – the image will haunt me forever

Scottish Sun19-06-2025
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
JUST moments earlier Cher Maximen had been laughing and dancing with her three-year-old daughter, Niketa.
But lying on the pavement in the middle of the carnival the mum was now fighting for her life as she bled out.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
11
Cher Maximen was stabbed at Notting Hill Carnival last year
Credit: HotSpot Media
11
Horrific bodycam footage caught the moment she was caught in the scuffle
Credit: HotSpot Media
11
Her grandmother Vyleen (left) has been left to care for Cher's (right) daughter Niketa (seen centre)
Credit: HotSpot Media
After a fight broke out between some men, amid the scuffle, the mum-of-one was stabbed in the groin.
And her grandmother, Vyleen, 68, received the devastating call that she was fighting for her life in hospital.
Tragically, six days later, the 32-year-old passed away from her injuries.
In May this year, Shakeil Thibou, 20, was found guilty of her murder and handed a 29 year sentence.
Now, grandmother of seven, Vyleen, is raising awareness of knife crime and calling for Notting Hill Carnival to be moved to a secure spot.
She says: 'Cher had her whole life ahead of her with Niketa.
'It was snatched away from her because of senseless violence.
'That monster hasn't shown an ounce of remorse for taking her life and leaving Niketa motherless.
'No child should have to witness their mother dying in front of them.
'It's horrific.
MUM'S PLEA Harvey Willgoose's mum calls for knife arches in every school in Britain after son was stabbed to death on way to lesson
'Now I want to see the carnival moved to a park or area that can be monitored or controlled better, so thugs cannot commit these horrific crimes and slip away, unnoticed, into the crowd.'
Since he was a child, Cher had attended the annual summer carnival, celebrating her Caribbean heritage.
A clothes designer and part-time model, she loved to showcase her latest creations.
Vyleen, from Bristol, says: 'Cher had dreams of starting her own fashion label.
'She loved going to the carnival each year and covering her hair and face in glitter.
'She'd always have some whacky costume, too.
'The year before she'd worn a cat suit and shiny Dr Martens.'
Last summer, Cher decided to take her daughter, Niketa, for the first time on the carnival's family day.
11
In May this year, Shakeil Thibou, 20, was found guilty of her murder and handed a 29 year sentence
Credit: HotSpot Media
11
Shaeim Thibou, 22, was found guilty of assaulting an emergency worker, PC Oliver Mort and given an 18-month suspended sentence
Credit: HotSpot Media
11
Sheldon Thibou was found guilty of violent disorder
Credit: HotSpot Media
11
The bodycam footage was played in court helping to secure a guilty verdict
Credit: HotSpot Media
Vyleen recalls: 'She was so excited to show Niketa the performers and celebrate the culture.'
When Vyleen's phone rang that night, it wasn't Cher's voice on the other end.
She explains: 'I answered, thinking it was her calling as her ID flashed up, but it was a nurse.
'When she told me Cher'd been injured, I panicked.'
Vyleen raced to the St Mary's Hospital in London where a police officer informed her Cher had been stabbed in the groin at the carnival with her attacker still at large.
Thankfully, Niketa was unharmed and being cared for by her godmother, TJ, 39.
Vyleen says: 'Soon after a consultant appeared and explained that Cher had lost a lot of blood and that they were trying to stabilise her.
'When the nurse took me in to see her I broke down seeing her hooked up to multiple machines.'
Over the next 24 hours, Cher underwent two major operations in an attempt to stem the internal bleeding she'd suffered.
During the second, Vyleen was told by the surgeon that she might not make it.
Afterwards, she was induced into a coma and hooked up to a ventilator.
Vyleen says: 'I was told she'd suffered enormous injuries but that they'd do everything in their power to save her.
'I prayed she'd pull through.'
Meanwhile, her liaison officer informed her that they'd arrested three men, but couldn't tell her anymore.
Over the next few days, while family members rallied around, Vyleen begged her granddaughter to wake up.
Eventually, six days on from the attack, she was told Cher wouldn't survive.
She says: 'The consultant told me she had no quality of life, that her brain had been starved of oxygen for too long.
'Still, his words didn't sink in. I wasn't ready to say goodbye.'
That day family members came to be with Cher and at 5:50am, Cher took her last breath.
Vyleen says: 'It still didn't seem real.
'That night, TJ broke the news to Niketa and I went to see her the next morning.
'She was staring into the distance. Was so traumatised by what she'd witnessed.
11
Cher had been attending the carnival since she was a chold
Credit: Facebook
11
Vyleen is now trying to raise awareness of knife crime
Credit: PA
11
The family keep a cardboard cut out of Cher in their home to keep her memory alive for Niketa
Credit: HotSpot Media
'When she told me 'Mummy was bleeding and I couldn't save her', I had to fight back tears. I told her 'You were so brave and your mummy loves you so much'.
'My heart broke for her.'
Vyleen took Niketa back to live with her in Bristol and planned Cher's funeral.
Soon after, three brothers were charged in connection with Cher's murder.
Two months on, in October 2024, the family held her funeral.
Vyleen says: 'She was taken to the church in a horse and cart.
'The church was so full, some people had to stand outside.
'It was lovely to see how many lives Cher had touched.
Her beautiful spirit lives on in her precious daughter
Vyleen Maximen
'As they carried her out, Diamonds by Rihanna was played.It was a fitting tribute.
'When we reached the grave to lay roses inside, Niketa broke down.
'Knowing she'd never see her mum again made my heart ache. It wasn't fair.'
In March this year Vyleen attended the Thibou brothers' trial.
The Old Bailey heard that a fight had broken out between some men, and officers intervened when they spotted one, Sheldon Thibou, 25, had an illegal stun gun.
The officer was assaulted and in the scuffle, Cher was knocked to the floor.
She grabbed one of the brother's coats to get back up and kicked out at him to defend her and Niketa.
That's when Shakeil Thibou, 20, pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the groin.
She fell down and bled out in front of Niketa.
Top 10 worst UK areas for serious knife crime
These are the stats for the latest 12-month period, with the previous year in brackets:
London Met 16,521 (13,957)
West Midlands 4,930 (5,239)
Greater Manchester 3,427 (-)
West Yorkshire 2,318 (2,373)
South Yorkshire 1,459 (1,629)
Essex 1,532 (1,575)
Merseyside 1,241 (1,276)
Sussex 1,186 (1,030)
Avon and Somerset 1,683 (1,368)
Lancashire 1,189 (1,043)
Six weeks on, Shakeil was found guilty of murder, attempted GBH on 20-year-old Adjei Isaac with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.
Vyleen says: 'When the judge sentenced him to a minimum of 29 years, I broke down in relief.
'I had justice for my girl at last.'
Shaeim Thibou, 22, was found guilty of assaulting an emergency worker, PC Oliver Mort and given an 18-month suspended sentence.
Sheldon Thibou was found guilty of violent disorder. He had previously pleaded guilty to the possession of an illegal stun gun and assaulting PC Mort, who tried to intervene.
He's due to be sentenced at a later date.
Vyleen adds: 'I'm now using my voice to speak out against knife crime.
'I didn't even hear from the organisers of the carnival following Cher's death.
'It's appalling.
'I would like the carnival to be better monitored so other innocent lives are protected.
'As for Niketa, now four, I was granted guardianship. She's the bravest little girl.
'We keep a life-sized cut out of Cher in the hallway, so every time she comes home, she sees her mum.
'We talk about her constantly and miss her every day.
'Thankfully, her beautiful spirit lives on in her precious daughter.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sick moment Brit tourist is kicked in head ‘by gang trying to steal his phone' as cops arrest five 17-year-old boys
Sick moment Brit tourist is kicked in head ‘by gang trying to steal his phone' as cops arrest five 17-year-old boys

Scottish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Sick moment Brit tourist is kicked in head ‘by gang trying to steal his phone' as cops arrest five 17-year-old boys

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the sick moment a Brit tourist was kicked in the head by a gang of teenagers during a horror robbery in Portugal. The Brit, 18, was left bloodied and unconscious during the assault after the yobs allegedly tried to steal his phone and cash before fleeing the scene. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Brit, 18, was left bloodied and unconscious during the assault Credit: Solarpix 4 The victim was seen lying defenceless on the ground after being attacked Credit: Solarpix 4 One of the suspected attackers who filmed the clip; five of them have been arrested Credit: Solarpix Footage filmed by the violent attackers shows the victim lying defenceless on the ground after being attacked. Portuguese police revealed today that the 18-year-old Brit had been robbed and hospitalised. The group is said to have stolen the victim's phone, worth around €600 (£525) Cops said five of the attackers - all aged 17 - have been arrested. Another four were identified by police. The violent crime occurred at the party resort of Albufeira. Two of the teenage suspects were filmed kicking their victim in the footage posted online. CCTV footage in the area where the assault took place is understood to have been key to the identification of those responsible. The unnamed victim is now back in the UK. Confirming the arrests, a spokesman for the GNR police force said: "The Faro Territorial Command arrested five 17-year-old men for robbery in the municipality of Albufeira. Shocking moment Brit influencer HSTikkyTokky batters reveller as massive brawl erupts in Magaluf "Following an investigation into a robbery involving violent assaults on an 18-year-old man, which took place on 17 July in the town of Albufeira. "The military police carried out police investigations that enabled them to identify and locate the suspects. 'During the police investigation, the GNR intercepted the five suspects and arrested them, also seizing five mobile phones. 'The detainees were due to appear on July 24 at the Portimao Judicial Court.' The teenagers, who live in Quarteira near Albufeira, are suspected of a number of other violent assaults on other young tourists. An active police investigation is ongoing. Local reports said they filmed the attacks and posted the footage on social media to brag about what they had done. Albufeira has come under the spotlight in recent weeks following the deaths of two British tourists in quick succession. On June 4, tragic Scots tourist Greg Monks was found dead near Albufeira after going missing a week earlier in the resort. The 38-year-old plant mechanic from Glasgow is believed to have lost his life after jumping over a wall and falling down a steep hillside during a night out with his stag do friends. Around four hours before Greg's body was found by police, another young Brit tourist was found dead behind a steep drop at the back of a residential block by Albufeira's Old Town. The 21-year-old is said to have gone out drinking with pals and is thought to have become disoriented as he tried to get back to his hotel. News of his death only emerged three days after Greg was found dead.

Horror as 3 spectators killed at rally after driver, 22, veers off road during race – year after tragedy at same event
Horror as 3 spectators killed at rally after driver, 22, veers off road during race – year after tragedy at same event

Scottish Sun

time5 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Horror as 3 spectators killed at rally after driver, 22, veers off road during race – year after tragedy at same event

The tragic incident happened at the event near Ambert this morning RACE SHOCK Horror as 3 spectators killed at rally after driver, 22, veers off road during race – year after tragedy at same event Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THREE spectators have died at a rally in France after a driver veered off the road. The tragic incident happened at the event near Ambert in the Puy-de-Dome region this morning. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The tragic incident happened at the event near Ambert in the Puy-de-Dome region this morning The car crashed into spectators at around 10am this morning. Two brothers aged 60 and 70 sadly died at the scene of the incident. A 44-year-old father was taken to hospital but also subsequently passed away, according to reports. The 22-year-old driver and their 51-year-old co-driver both sustained minor injuries. The incident saw dozens of police officers and firefighters rush to the scene. The Puy-de-Dome prefecture posted on X: "This morning, a tragic accident occurred during the Rallye de la Fourme d'Ambert. "Following a vehicle in the race going off the road, several spectators were struck. "Our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those affected by this tragedy." A manslaughter investigation has now been opened, local media reports add. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun

Scots cops charge man 30 years after mystery death of young mum
Scots cops charge man 30 years after mystery death of young mum

Scottish Sun

time7 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Scots cops charge man 30 years after mystery death of young mum

Shona Stevens was found dying just meters from her home Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A PENSIONER who was arrested in connection with the mystery death of a young mum 30 years ago has now been charged. Shona Stevens was tragically found dying just meters from her home in Irvine, Ayrshire, on November 10, 1994. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Shona Stevens died in November 1994 Credit: POLICE SCOTLAND 3 She was found critically injured on a footpath near Alder Green, in Irvine, Ayrshire Credit: POLICE SCOTLAND The 31-year-old was discovered on a footpath near the rear of Alder Green in the Bourtreehill Park area of the town. She was rushed to hospital, but sadly passed away three days later. Shona was living with her mum and her daughter, Candice, who was just seven at the time. She had briefly left the house to nip to the Co-op shop in Bourtreehill Shopping Centre around lunchtime when she was allegedly attacked. She was last seen walking home alone along Towerlands Road at around 1.10pm. But three decades after detectives were left baffled, police yesterday revealed that a 67-year-old man was arrested in connection with her death. And today, Police Scotland's Major Investigation Team have confirmed that the pensioner has now been charged. He is now expected to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court sometime on Monday. Senior investigation officer Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Gillies said: 'I would like to thank the members of the local community who assisted us in our inquiries. 'I am grateful for their information and input, which greatly contributed to our investigation.' I thought mom abandoned me as a baby but she'd been left 'without a face' in brutal murder - cops 'can solve it & won't' The major breakthrough in the cold-case murder comes after mum Mhairi and Candice launched a plea for answers last year. The heartbroken family urged anyone with information to come forward and speak with officers. "We still want justice for Shona, and your help would be greatly appreciated. "We know it has been 30 years since Shona was taken from us but to us it seems like only yesterday. "There is not a day that goes by that she is not in our thoughts and in our hearts. 'If you remember noticing or seeing anything suspicious or out of the ordinary, no matter how small, please let the police know. ' Investigators previously said the key to solving the case was in the community and Crimestoppers stumped up a £20K reward. In a previous appeal, DI Gillies said he believed "the person responsible has local connections". He said a number of "forensic investigations" were also being carried out, during a statement in November last year. He said the force "remains focused to ensure that justice is done". Appeals for information have also featured on the BBC's Crimewatch.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store