Top chef killed in self-defence, court hears

Mussie Imnetu died in hospital after being attacked

A man accused of murdering a top chef near Notting Hill Carnival has claimed he acted out of fear and in self-defence.

Charity worker Omar Wilson, 31, punched and kicked Mussie Imnetu, 41, until he was unconscious during a row outside a restaurant in Queensway, west London, on the evening of 26 August last year, the Old Bailey was told.

Mr Imnetu was taken to hospital with brain damage and died four days later.

Mr Wilson told the Old Bailey: "I just regret that somebody's life was taken while I was trying to defend mine."

Mr Imnetu pictured on CCTV before the assault

Mr Imnetu, who had previously worked under chefs Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, was said to have been "heavily intoxicated" during the incident.

Mr Wilson headbutted Mr Imnetu before punching him repeatedly about a minute later, causing him to fall to the floor where he was punched and kicked, the court heard.

In his police interview, Mr Wilson claimed he had seen Mr Imnetu harassing women and asked him to move away after which the chef became "aggressive".

Giving evidence on Monday, Mr Wilson claimed he hit Mr Imnetu because he felt "trapped" and "scared" and believed that the chef was holding a smashed bottle with which he could hurt him.

He said he "definitely" has regrets.

"I just regret that somebody's life was taken while I was trying to defend mine.

"I never imagined that would be on my conscience and now everything's different.

"The thing that always haunts me the most was the police were so close and I didn't know at the time."

'Fight or flight'

"I thought he was going to attack me," the defendant told police.

The court heard he became emotional during the interview when he said officers did not understand what it was like to be in "this situation".

"To be honest I've been through many situations," he went on.

"I'm a good judge of character I think and besides he was just coming for me man.

"I've seen people die like that so I just went into fight or flight."

Mr Wilson denied wanting to seriously hurt Mr Imnetu saying he "just wanted to stop the threat, just neutralise it."

During cross-examination, he repeatedly denied acting out of anger and said if he knew then that Mr Imnetu was not holding a bottle he would not have acted the way he did.

Of seeing the CCTV footage after the incident, the defendant said: "I watched the video and found out he didn't have the bottle.

"It was just in my head and that's what made me feel like it was disgusting.

"Knowing what I know now it definitely seems excessive."

Mr Wilson, of Leytonstone, in east London, denies murder and denies intending to cause serious harm.

The trial continues.