Accused of murdering his girlfriend’s dad

An accused killer arrested at Notting Hill Carnival for murdering his girlfriend’s father after they broke up appeared in court today (Mon).

Kamar Williams, 33, allegedly got out of a van and stabbed bus driver Derrick Thomas, 53, to death with a large knife in Stoke Newington, north London, late on 30 July.

Mr Thomas was attacked as he made his way home from work at the Northumberland Park bus garage in Tottenham, where he worked for transport company Go-Ahead London.

He was pronounced dead at the scene despite the best efforts of paramedics.

A postmortem found three stab wounds with the fatal wound to the left chest area.

Four members of the victims family were attended the Old Bailey for todays hearing.

Williams was arrested at the carnival on 26 August and charged with murder and possession of a knife.

He had been in a relationship with Mr Thomas’ daughter and they had recently broken up, the Old Bailey heard.

Wearing a prison issue grey t-shirt he appeared in court via video-link from HMP Pentonville speaking only to confirm his name.

Prosecutor Philip McGhee earlier said: ‘Just after 11pm Mr Thomas was walking home from work as a bus driver and a van was seen to come to a sudden halt in the middle of the road at Stoke Newington Common where he was walking.

‘A man, the driver, got out and he proceeded to attack the deceased and stab him a number of times with what witnesses describe as a very big knife, and then he got back into the van and drove of at speed.

‘A taxi driver describes seeing the van driver emerge from van with what he thought was a stick at first in his hand which the witness then realised it was in fact a large knife.

‘He saw the deceased walking along in a white shirt, he moved backwards to try to defend himself by throwing punches at the van driver but that man slashed at the deceased who slumped and fell back on the road.

‘The deceased was found on the ground. Members of the public went to his aid and emergency services attended but despite the medical intervention his life was pronounced extinct at 11.35pm in the evening.’

Judge Angela Rafferty KC warned of the ‘massive court backlog’ after hearing that Williams was not ready to enter his plea today.

A new plea and trial preparation date was set for 6 December.

Williams, of Cuba Street, Isle of Dogs, is charged with murder and possession of a knife.

He faces trial on 2 June next year.
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