A mother who was stabbed with a ‘Rambo-style knife’ in front of her three-year-old daughter at Notting Hill Carnival might lose her leg, a court heard today.
Shakiel Thibou appeared in court this morning charged with the attempted murder of a 32-year-old Cher Maximen who had attended the carnival’s ‘Family Day’ with her young child on Sunday.
It is alleged the woman – who has been left in a coma in a life-threatening condition – had tried to intervene in a fight that had broken out between two groups of men when she was knifed in the leg.
The court heard the victim had attended the carnival with her daughter and other family and friends when she was stabbed in the groin in broad daylight.
A 20-year-old man appeared in court this morning charged with the attempted murder of a mother who was stabbed in front of her young child at Notting Hill CarnivalÂ
Ms Maximen suffered a cardiac arrest and has been left in a coma after losing 20 units of blood and one of her lungs collapsed, while she may need to have her leg amputated, the court heard.Â
20-year-old Shakiel – charged with attempted murder, possessing a knife and violent disorder – attended court alongside his older brothers Sheldon, 24, and Shaeim, 21, who are charged with violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker.
Sheldon alone is further charged with the possession of a personal incapacitation device – namely a stun-gun.
All three brothers wore grey tracksuits and spoke to confirm their name, date of birth and address as they sat in the dock together at the hearing.
Shakiel, of Masbro Road, Hammersmith, west London, and Sheldon, of Star Road, Hammersmith, gave no indication of pleas, while Shaeim, of Charleville Road, Fulham, south-west London, indicated a not guilty plea.
District Judge John Zani denied all three defendants bail and remanded them into custody to next appear together for a hearing at the Old Bailey on September 25.
Shakiel was seen hugging his brothers in the dock before being led down to the cells.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed 230 people were arrested at the carnival on Monday as well as 104 on Sunday’s ‘Family Day’.
The 20-year-old was arrested at an address in Hammersmith and Fulham in connection with the incident on Tuesday morning. Â
Police believe the victim was caught in the middle of a brawl between two groups of men.
Revellers pass through metal security at Notting Hill carnival the largest street festival in Europe
The woman got caught in the fight between two groups and was stabbed in Golborne Road just before 6pm on Sunday.
Commander Charmain Brenyah, the Met’s spokesperson for Notting Hill Carnival, said the mother had come to the festival to ‘have fun… and was caught up in the most awful violence’.
‘Our thoughts, first and foremost, are with the woman who is fighting for her life in hospital and with her loved ones,’ she said.
‘She came to Carnival to have fun, with her young child, and was caught up in the most awful violence.
‘These arrests are a significant step in the investigation. They are the result of a determined effort by detectives who have worked around the clock to identify, locate and arrest these suspects.
‘We should not underestimate how much more difficult those vital early stages of an investigation are when they take place in the context of a busy, crowded event like Carnival.
‘I’d also like to acknowledge the incredible work of the officers, including police medics, who arrived so quickly – delivering emergency medical treatment and securing the scene to preserve vital evidence.
Police officers stand in riot gear at the Notting Hill Carnival on ‘Family Day’ on SundayÂ
‘Our investigations into the other incidents over the weekend continue.’
Arrests at this year’s carnival hit their highest level since 2019 with 334 detained in two days as police said they were ‘tired’ of violence blighting the event.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed 230 people were arrested on Monday as well as 104 on Sunday’s ‘Family Day’.
The violence has prompted rank-and-file police to warn ‘no one is safe’ if even mothers with children are now targets for attacks at Europe’s biggest street party.
Rick Prior, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, told the Daily Mail that the carnival needed to be moved out of Notting Hill so it could be better policed.
Mr Prior suggested a more contained area, such as Hyde Park, could allow for the celebration to still take place, but in a safer manner.
‘Now people are going after women with children, you know no one’s safe,’ he said.
‘One has to recognise the cultural significance of the event and no-one wants to be a party-pooper – I personally wouldn’t wish to see the event completely cancelled – but it’s evolved from its roots and it needs to evolve further now.
‘With a huge increase in numbers coming year-on-year, an unacceptable amount of crime, injuries and serious assaults taking place, I just think there has to be alternative, safer nearby venues that need to be, at least, seriously considered.
‘If you’re advertising it as a family event, it needs to be safe. If people see it’s a family day out and want to go there, it shouldn’t be that they become the expected victims of crime when they turn up.’
