Latest news with #ShakeilThibou
The Independent
16-05-2025
- The Independent
‘Justice has been served', say family of woman killed at Notting Hill Carnival
The family of a woman stabbed to death in front of her three-year-old daughter during Notting Hill Carnival's family day said 'justice has been served' as her killer was jailed for life with a minimum term of 29 years. Shakeil Thibou, 20, stabbed Cher Maximen, 32, in the groin as her young daughter was close by on August 25 last year. Judge Philip Katz KC said Thibou's 'brazen' attack had been carried out in broad daylight in front of families and the police. Speaking outside court, Ms Maximen's family said 'no sentence is long enough' for her killer. Her sister TJ Jacobs added: 'We're glad that justice has been served. 'We hope that it acts as a deterrent to people that choose to come along to any occasion or any event and act so recklessly and without thought in situations that can lead to just such catastrophic events.' Asked about Ms Maximen's daughter, her grandmother said she is 'growing up lovely'. She added: 'She's happy. She's smiling constantly. 'We don't forget about her mummy. We speak about her mum all the time. 'She's thriving… she's got her village around her, her community… she's doing well.' Thibou, who wore a medical face mask and blue beanie hat in the dock, looked straight ahead throughout the hearing. Moments before he stabbed Ms Maximen, he had carried out an 'equally horrifying attack' on a man who was backing away from him, his Old Bailey trial heard. Thibou was found guilty of murder and also convicted of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to 20-year-old Adjei Isaac with intent, and having an offensive weapon. His brother Sheldon Thibou, 25, was found guilty of violent disorder and assaulting Pc Oliver Mort, who tried to intervene. A third brother, Shaeim Thibou, 22, was cleared of violent disorder but convicted of assaulting Pc Mort. Judge Katz said it was 'not possible to overstate the impact' of Ms Maximen's death on her family and friends. 'Cher Maximen took her three-year-old daughter to a children's day at the Notting Hill Carnival,' he said. 'Instead of them both just enjoying a fun day together, that child witnessed her mother being murdered in front of her. 'The police were totally outnumbered as the violence spun out of control. 'Just watching the body-worn footage was terrifying. 'When violence broke out, you were quick to move to join in. 'You were so fired up that you didn't hesitate to use your knife. 'You were so brazen that it was carried out in front of police officers.' Before the judge delivered his sentence, Thibou shook hands with and spoke to his brother Shaeim through the glass panels of the dock. The trial heard how a disturbance broke out at about 5.48pm between the defendants and at least two other males close to where Ms Maximen was standing with her group. The crowd parted as Sheldon Thibou got into a physical confrontation with the males, prompting Pc Mort to step in to break it up, jurors had heard. Sheldon Thibou was holding a stun gun as he and Shaeim hit out at the officer, the court heard. Meanwhile, Shakeil Thibou thrust a 'huge' knife repeatedly towards Mr Isaac's stomach, only missing him because the victim drew back. Ms Maximen was knocked to the ground after Mr Isaac came into contact with her, then managed to partially get to her feet, prosecutor Ed Brown KC said. She appeared to lift her right leg at Shakeil Thibou who raised the knife directly towards her and deliberately stabbed her in her groin, jurors heard. The defendants, of Hammersmith, west London, had denied the charges against them although Sheldon Thibou admitted having the stun gun. In his defence, Shakeil Thibou claimed he picked up the knife at the carnival and acted in self-defence against Mr Isaac. He claimed the death of Ms Maximen was an accident. Philip Evans KC, defending, said Thibou had expressed 'regret' and 'remorse' for what happened. In a victim impact statement read to the court, grandmother Vyleen Maximen said: 'Cher was my first born grandchild, my friend. 'I held you in my arms when you were born. Thirty-two years of loving, laughing, playing, crying and holidaying with you. I will no longer have that pleasure ever again. I won't see you get married or having more children. 'The hole in my heart will never be filled. 'I will never hear your key in my front door shouting 'hello nanny'. 'Life will never be the same, ever.' Shaeim Thibou was handed a six-month jail term suspended for 18 months. Judge Katz told him he had gone 'too far' when he assaulted the police officer. 'This is a warning. If you think loyalty to your brothers enables you to break the law, you are very much mistaken,' he added. Sheldon Thibou will be sentenced at a later date. Emma Currie, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'This is a profoundly tragic case where a young child lost her mother, on what was meant to be a family friendly day for them both at the carnival. 'Cher was caught up in the panicked crowd caused by the actions of the Thibou brothers, who robbed her of her life and the chance to see her little girl grow up. 'The brothers' actions showed no regard for the hundreds of people around them. 'Our thoughts remain with Cher's family and friends as they deal with this unimaginable loss.'
The Independent
16-05-2025
- The Independent
Man who killed woman in front of daughter at Notting Hill Carnival jailed
A man who murdered a woman in front of her three-year-old daughter during Notting Hill Carnival's family day has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 29 years. Shakeil Thibou, 20, stabbed Cher Maximen, 32, in the groin as her young daughter was close by on August 25 last year. Judge Philip Katz KC said Thibou's 'brazen' attack had been carried out in broad daylight in front of families and the police. Thibou, who wore a medical face mask and blue beanie hat in the dock, looked straight ahead throughout. Moments before he stabbed Ms Maximen, he had carried out an 'equally horrifying attack' on a man who was backing away from him, his Old Bailey trial heard. Thibou was found guilty of murder and also convicted of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to 20-year-old Adjei Isaac with intent, and having an offensive weapon. His brother Sheldon Thibou, 25, was found guilty of violent disorder and assaulting Pc Oliver Mort, who tried to intervene. A third brother, Shaeim Thibou, 22, was cleared of violent disorder but convicted of assaulting Pc Mort. Judge Katz said it was 'not possible to overstate the impact' of Ms Maximen's death on her family and friends. 'Cher Maximen took her three-year-old daughter to a children's day at the Notting Hill Carnival,' he said. 'Instead of them both just enjoying a fun day together, that child witnessed her mother being murdered in front of her. 'The police were totally outnumbered as the violence spun out of control. 'Just watching the bodyworn footage was terrifying. 'When violence broke out, you were quick to move to join in. 'You were so fired up that you didn't hesitate to use your knife. 'You were so brazen that it was carried out in front of police officers.' Before the judge delivered his sentence, Thibou shook hands with and spoke to his brother Shaeim through the glass panels of the dock. The trial heard how a disturbance broke out at about 5.48pm between the defendants and at least two other males close to where Ms Maximen was standing with her group. The crowd parted as Sheldon Thibou got into a physical confrontation with the males, prompting Pc Mort to step in to break it up, jurors had heard. Sheldon Thibou was holding a stun gun as he and Shaeim hit out at the officer, the court heard. Meanwhile, Shakeil Thibou thrust a 'huge' knife repeatedly towards Mr Isaac's stomach, only missing him because the victim drew back. Ms Maximen was knocked to the ground after Mr Isaac came into contact with her, then managed to partially get to her feet, prosecutor Ed Brown KC said. She appeared to lift her right leg at Shakeil Thibou who raised the knife directly towards her and deliberately stabbed her in her groin, jurors heard. Mr Brown said: 'The injuries inflicted on Ms Maximen were fatal – the defendant had killed her. It was a truly shocking attack, and regarded as such by those around it.' The defendants, of Hammersmith, west London, had denied the charges against them although Sheldon Thibou admitted having the stun gun. In his defence, Shakeil Thibou claimed he picked up the knife at the carnival and acted in self-defence against Mr Isaac. He claimed the death of Ms Maximen was an accident. Philip Evans KC, defending, said Thibou had expressed 'regret' and 'remorse' for what happened. However, the prosecution case was that the knife was brought to the scene by the defendant, and that another blade was found during a search of his room. In a victim impact statement read to the court, grandmother Vyleen Maximen said: 'Cher was my first born grandchild, my friend. 'I held you in my arms when you were born. Thirty-two years of loving, laughing, playing, crying and holidaying with you. I will no longer have that pleasure ever again. I won't see you get married or having more children. 'The hole in my heart will never be filled. 'I will never hear your key in my front door shouting 'hello nanny'. 'Life will never be the same ever.' Shaeim Thibou was handed a six-month jail term suspended for 18 months. Judge Katz told him he had gone 'too far' when he assaulted the police officer. 'This is a warning. If you think loyalty to your brothers enables you to break the law, you are very much mistaken,' he added. Sheldon Thibou will be sentenced at a later date. Speaking outside court, Ms Maximen's family said 'no sentence is long enough' for her killer. 'We're glad that justice has been served,' her sister TJ Jacobs said. 'We hope that it acts as a deterrent to people that choose to come along to any occasion or any event and act so recklessly and without thought in situations that can lead to just such catastrophic events.' Asked about Ms Maximen's daughter, her grandmother said she is 'growing up lovely'. She added: 'She's happy. She's smiling constantly. 'We don't forget about her mummy. We speak about her mum all the time. 'She's thriving… she's got her village around her, her community… she's doing well.'
Sky News
16-05-2025
- Sky News
Man jailed for life for 'brazen' murder of mother at Notting Hill Carnival
A man who fatally stabbed a mother in front of her three-year-old daughter at Notting Hill Carnival has been jailed for life. Shakeil Thibou was convicted of murdering Cher Maximen at the Old Bailey last month. On Friday, the 20-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum term of 29 years. Ms Maximen, 32, was with friends when she became caught up in a fight involving multiple men, and died in hospital from her injuries six days later. Judge Philip Katz KC said Thibou's "brazen" attack was carried out in front of families and the police. 1:19 The defendant wore a medical face mask and blue beanie hat in the dock, and looked straight ahead throughout the hearing. Judge Katz told Thibou: "The police were totally outnumbered as the violence spun out of control. Just watching the bodyworn footage was terrifying. "When violence broke out, you were quick to move to join in. You were so fired up that you didn't hesitate to use your knife. You were so brazen that it was carried out in front of police officers." Thibou's 22-year-old brother Shaeim was convicted of assaulting PC Oliver Mort, who had tried to intervene, and has been handed a six-month jail term suspended for 18 months. Judge Katz told him he had gone "too far" when he assaulted the police officer. "This is a warning. If you think loyalty to your brothers enables you to break the law, you are very much mistaken," he added. Their older brother, Sheldon, 25, will be sentenced at a later date after being found guilty of violent disorder and assaulting PC Mort. Philip Evans KC, defending, said Shakeil Thibou had expressed "regret" and "remorse" for what happened. However, the prosecution case was that the knife was brought to the scene by the defendant, and that another blade was found during a search of his room. Following Thibou's conviction, Detective Chief Inspector Alex Gammampila had said: "Cher was a loving mother who went to Notting Hill Carnival to enjoy what should have been a carefree day ... her life was ended in the most senseless way. "In stark contrast, Shakeil Thibou went to Carnival not to be part of the celebration, but to engage in violence. Why else would he have arrived armed with a large knife and seeking confrontation?" The attack, which was caught on camera, happened just off the parade route on 25 August last year. Cher's relative TJ Jacobs, who is godmother to her daughter, said: "What happened to us has completely turned our lives upside down. Losing Cher has filled our hearts with immeasurable sadness. "This senseless act of violence has cut short a life that had so much more to offer the world and was only just beginning to blossom." 2:55 Speaking to Sky News, her family described her as a vivacious young woman who grew up in Bristol and then London, finding her feet working with people in music and entertainment. Cher's cousin Lawrence Hoo said: "It's just this energy she had, she lit up the room. If you walked into a space, you'd know that Cher was there. Her energy itself would fill the room. She was a very bright light." Mr Hoo said the idea of the toddler witnessing her mother on the ground punctuates the sadness the family feel with anger. "The feeling of loss is overwhelming, but so is the feeling of rage," he said. "She [Cher's daughter] is aware that on that day, something happened to her mother." In a victim impact statement read to the court, grandmother Vyleen Maximen said: "Cher was my first-born grandchild, my friend. "I held you in my arms when you were born. Thirty-two years of loving, laughing, playing, crying and holidaying with you. I will no longer have that pleasure ever again. I won't see you get married or having more children. "The hole in my heart will never be filled."
Times
16-05-2025
- Times
Man jailed for life for Notting Hill Carnival zombie knife murder
A man who stabbed a mother to death in front of her three-year-old daughter on family day at the Notting Hill Carnival has been sentenced to life in jail with a minimum term of 29 years. Cher Maximen, 32, was stabbed to death with a zombie knife near Trellick Tower on Golborne Road, west London, last summer. Shakeil Thibou, 20, attempted to stab Adjei Isaac, now 20, before knifing Maximen moments later after she was knocked off her feet on August 25 last year. Maximen, a model and clothing designer, died six days later from her injuries. Isaac was able to retreat and move his body away from the knife and survived by 'centimetres'. Thibou claimed he was trying to defend himself from Isaac and
Western Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Western Telegraph
Man who killed woman in front of daughter at Notting Hill Carnival jailed
Shakeil Thibou, 20, stabbed Cher Maximen, 32, in the groin as her young daughter was close by on August 25 last year. Judge Philip Katz KC said Thibou's 'brazen' attack had been carried out in broad daylight in front of families and the police. Thibou, who wore a medical face mask and blue beanie hat in the dock, looked straight ahead throughout. Moments before he stabbed Ms Maximen, he had carried out an 'equally horrifying attack' on a man who was backing away from him, his Old Bailey trial heard. Thibou was found guilty of murder and also convicted of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to 20-year-old Adjei Isaac with intent, and having an offensive weapon. Cher Maximen died after being stabbed in the groin (Met Police/PA) His brother Sheldon Thibou, 25, was found guilty of violent disorder and assaulting Pc Oliver Mort, who tried to intervene. A third brother, Shaeim Thibou, 22, was cleared of violent disorder but convicted of assaulting Pc Mort. Judge Katz said it was 'not possible to overstate the impact' of Ms Maximen's death on her family and friends. 'Cher Maximen took her three-year-old daughter to a children's day at the Notting Hill Carnival,' he said. 'Instead of them both just enjoying a fun day together, that child witnessed her mother being murdered in front of her. 'The police were totally outnumbered as the violence spun out of control. 'Just watching the bodyworn footage was terrifying. 'When violence broke out, you were quick to move to join in. 'You were so fired up that you didn't hesitate to use your knife. 'You were so brazen that it was carried out in front of police officers.' Before the judge delivered his sentence, Thibou shook hands with and spoke to his brother Shaeim through the glass panels of the dock. The trial heard how a disturbance broke out at about 5.48pm between the defendants and at least two other males close to where Ms Maximen was standing with her group. The crowd parted as Sheldon Thibou got into a physical confrontation with the males, prompting Pc Mort to step in to break it up, jurors had heard. Sheldon Thibou was holding a stun gun as he and Shaeim hit out at the officer, the court heard. Meanwhile, Shakeil Thibou thrust a 'huge' knife repeatedly towards Mr Isaac's stomach, only missing him because the victim drew back. Ms Maximen was knocked to the ground after Mr Isaac came into contact with her, then managed to partially get to her feet, prosecutor Ed Brown KC said. She appeared to lift her right leg at Shakeil Thibou who raised the knife directly towards her and deliberately stabbed her in her groin, jurors heard. Mr Brown said: 'The injuries inflicted on Ms Maximen were fatal – the defendant had killed her. It was a truly shocking attack, and regarded as such by those around it.' The defendants, of Hammersmith, west London, had denied the charges against them although Sheldon Thibou admitted having the stun gun. In his defence, Shakeil Thibou claimed he picked up the knife at the carnival and acted in self-defence against Mr Isaac. He claimed the death of Ms Maximen was an accident. Philip Evans KC, defending, said Thibou had expressed 'regret' and 'remorse' for what happened. However, the prosecution case was that the knife was brought to the scene by the defendant, and that another blade was found during a search of his room. In a victim impact statement read to the court, grandmother Vyleen Maximen said: 'Cher was my first born grandchild, my friend. 'I held you in my arms when you were born. Thirty-two years of loving, laughing, playing, crying and holidaying with you. I will no longer have that pleasure ever again. I won't see you get married or having more children. 'The hole in my heart will never be filled. 'I will never hear your key in my front door shouting 'hello nanny'. 'Life will never be the same ever.' Shaeim Thibou will be sentenced later on Friday, and Sheldon Thibou will be sentenced at a later date.
