A man who described himself as a “monster” allegedly attacked a top chef near the Notting Hill Carnival, leaving him dying in the street before going out to a nightclub, a court has been told.
Omar Wilson, 31, reportedly punched and kicked Mussie Imnetu, 41, during an argument outside Dr Power restaurant on Queensway in west London on the evening of 26 August 2024, according to the Old Bailey.
Mr. Imnetu, who had worked with renowned chefs Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, was rushed to the hospital but passed away four days later without regaining consciousness, jurors heard. Wilson, from Napier Road in Leytonstone, east London, has pleaded not guilty to murder.
In the aftermath of the attack, Mr Wilson allegedly told an associate that he “crossed the line”.
In a message, he allegedly said: “There’s a monster in me, man, and it’s just like sometimes it comes out.
“And I think I’ve messed up now, I’ve messed up, everything’s finished.”
Asked how the carnival was going, he replied: “Can’t lie. I did the hands ting (sic) and I think it’s a manslaughter,” jurors heard.
Prosecutor Jacob Hallam KC told jurors that at the end of the attack as Mr Imnetu was dying on the ground, the defendant went clubbing in the Ministry of Sound.
The incident was caught on CCTV and began when Mr Wilson approached Mr Imnetu and headbutted him, Mr Hallam said.
About a minute later, Mr Wilson punched Mr Imnetu five times in the head causing him to fall to the floor.
Mr Wilson continued to punch Mr Imnetu repeatedly and proceeded to kick him in the head, jurors heard.
Mr Hallam said: “The defendant had, by that point, struck him to his head more than a dozen times. Mr Imnetu had struck the defendant not once.”
As nearby police moved to help Mr Imnetu, Mr Wilson walked away having dropped his sunglasses and keys at the scene, jurors were told.
Following his arrest on 28 August, Mr Wilson told police he had struck the victim in “self defence”.
He claimed Mr Imnetu was behaving erratically, harassing girls and had a bottle.
On being shown CCTV of Mr Imnetu being assaulted on the ground, Mr Wilson said it “seems excessive now”, jurors were told.
The Old Bailey trial has been adjourned until Wednesday.
