‘It was like hell on earth’: Son of murdered Maida Vale mum describes living in fear from her stalker ex

The son of the Maida Vale mum who was stabbed to death by her ex described living in fear from him. Yasmin Chkaifi, 43, was killed by Leon McCaskie in West London on January 24, weeks after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Her son Zayd Bakkali, 18, said he believes the Metropolitan Police could’ve stopped the attack and he will “never trust them fully again”. The teenager described his mother as a “blessing” and a “misplaced star on earth” who feared for her safety after being abused for years by McCaskie.

Zayd told ITV News that living with McCaskie was “like hell on earth”. He said: “I remember coming home from school thinking ‘how am I going to protect my mother tonight?’ No child deserves to go through that.”

READ MORE: Husband of ‘angel’ mum stabbed to death by violent ex speaks of ‘caring, kind’ wife for the first time

Yasmin Chkaifi’s son described her as a “blessing” and a “misplaced star on earth”

Even after the marriage ended, the abuse continued. McCaskie was given a restraining order and the Met Police had fitted the house with an alarm, measures that Mr Bakkali believes were woefully insignificant.

“You tell someone that they can’t do something… if they have murderous intent, they will do it,” he said. “This could’ve been avoided. He lived so near – I would literally see him on a monthly basis and the police would do nothing.

Yasmin died at the scene on Chippenham Road despite “hero” driver Abraham “mowing down and killing the knife-wielding attacker” in a “desperate attempt to save the woman” just yards from a primary school. The driver of the car was released without charge on Tuesday (February 1).

Zayd praised Abraham, saying: “This bravery… I think he was the only part of justice in the entire situation.” Now, Mr Bakkali hopes to use his mum’s legacy to raise awareness of domestic abuse, honouring his mother and “any other women who need it”.

Yasmin’s new husband Joseph Salmon has told the BBC his wife was “smart, clever and witty”. Other members of her family also said she had a “big, caring heart” and would still be alive if police had done more. The police watchdog, the IOPC, is investigating the case.

Joseph said: “I’m grateful for the chance to talk to her, marry her, be happy with her, and fall in love with her.” He added that both he and his family were “at a loss” and “heartbroken”.

He added: “I just think domestic abuse is a very bad problem and, if there’s no education about it from very young, if things aren’t sorted, if men can’t keep their hands to themselves, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

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https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/it-like-hell-earth-son-22996551

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