Cop suffers from PTSD after stab ordeal

A police officer could not sleep for more than 40 minutes after he was stabbed by a father-of-three while trying to protect a social worker.

Sulai Man, 34, also known as Sulai Bukhari, stabbed a social worker and two police officers as they carried out a welfare check on his children.

He hid round the corner from his north London home before running over and knifing 61-year-old Themba Nkomo on 6 August 2021.

Police constables David Turpin and Luke Smith were also attacked when they intervened.

Wielding a Swiss Army-style knife in each hand, Man used one of his blades to ‘rapidly stab’ at PC Smith, but he was wearing his stab vest and fortunately escaped serious injury.

Judge Michael Topolski, KC, heard evidence at the Old Bailey on Man’s mental state ahead of sentencing on 28 February.

Man attended court with a beard wearing a black hoodie. He is currently being held in a secure hospital.

Reading his victim impact statement to the court PC Turpin said: ‘I was stabbed by Sulai Man whilst attempting to assist a social worker with a welfare check.

‘I’ve been a police officer for five and a half years and this incident is the first time I’ve needed a prolonged period of time off my job.

‘The toll this incident has taken has evolved as time has gone on. Initially I couldn’t sleep more than 40 minutes and was tired for months.

‘It affected my state of mind, I was not able to manage my emotions, I was stuck between wanting to cry at situations or wanting to explode with anger at the smallest things.

‘My children noticed and I didn’t want to spend time with family because of it. The only way I could think of to protect them from the way I was feeling was to distance myself from them.

‘I have received treatment for PTSD since the incident and have been told this is something I will have to learn to live with for the rest of my life.

‘I’ve always been a big guy, 6 foot 5, and confident in my ability to protect myself as a police officer.

‘This incident has brought to life the ever present danger of the job and I now find myself overthinking situations and the risk I’m putting myself in.

‘I now find it harder to switch off and remove my work persona following a shift.

‘I was notified of potential disease complications from my injuries and the possibility I may have been exposed to the HIV virus. I had to wait three months to be given the all clear.

‘When my daughter was born I had to take precautions in the delivery room, wear protective clothing and was not allowed near my wife.

‘I felt like I couldn’t fully be there for my wife when she was vulnerable and in pain.’

Mr Nkomo was a social worker for Haringey Council and in charge of safeguarding the welfare of children who lived in the London borough.

Judge Topolski said the court must consider whether a sentence of punishment or treatment was appropriate, or a balance between the two.

The court heard there was evidence Man was psychotic and delusional at the time of the offences.

Judge Topolski said: ‘But he did form a serious intent to kill or seriously harm two serving police officers going about their duty.

‘To stab two serving police officers and a social worker is a very grave crime.

‘The victims here were specifically target because of their role. They were part of the army Mr Man was fighting against, part of his battle with social services and the law- the police.’

Man was brought up to court late for the hearing today because he was praying.

At a trial in October he denied but was convicted of attempted murder by the jury with a majority verdict of ten-to-one

He was also found guilty of two counts of attempting to wound the police officers with intent.

The attack occurred in a matter of seconds from start to finish and was captured on police body worn footage and a doorbell camera.

Police had made the decision to force entry to the flat, using a pair of bolt cutters to break chains on the door when no one at the address answered.

‘The police advised Mr Nkomo that he should wait outside the flat so that the police could check that it was safe for him to come in,’ prosecutor Simon Ray said earlier.

‘It is now clear from the available footage that the defendant was hiding around the corner from his front door. When the police went into the flat the defendant ran at Mr Nkomo and stabbed him in the chest.

‘He was holding a Swiss Army-type knife. One in each hand.

‘Mr Nkomo fell to the floor and the defendant continued to stab him whilst he was on the floor. The police heard Mr Nkomo shout and immediately ran out…to help.

‘The first officer to reach him was PC Turpin. As PC Turpin entered the hallway the defendant ran away.

‘PC Turpin followed…almost immediately the defendant turned and launched himself at PC Turpin.

‘PC Smith tackled the defendant to the poor. The defendant used one of his knives to rapidly stab at PC Smith.’

The officer was wearing his stab vest and came away relatively unharmed.

Mr Ray added: ‘It is clear from where the defendant was targeting….he was trying to cause him more serious harm than he achieved.

‘The fact that the injuries suffered by the victims did not result in death…can, you might think, be put down to good luck.’

Mr Nkomo needed hospital treatment but fortunately none of the three victims suffered life threatening injuries, the court heard.

Following his arrest, Man claimed he was ‘protecting his family’, questioning why the police were involved in what he called ‘civil matters’.

Giving evidence over days during the trial, Man said his children were his ‘world’.

Social services visited his family home several times last year but Man was not living there.

‘I was growing…more concerned about the police’s presence and invasiveness and hefty handed approach with my family.’

Man said the social worker had attended the flat with police on 17 June last year and he felt his family were ‘repeatedly harassed and repeatedly hounded’.

‘It’s not living at peace in your own home.

‘And that home was designed for the kids.’

He added: ‘Everyone wants to protect their family.

‘I have a family and my priority is to keep them safe.

‘I am not the type of person who would want to take life.’

Man, of Noel Park Road, Wood Green, denied but was convicted of attempted murder and two counts of attempting to wound with intent.

He will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 28 February.

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