A man allegedly slapped and punched a grandmother before fatally stabbing her in the chest and neck while she waited at an Edgware bus stop.

Medical secretary Anita Mukhey, 66, died after she was attacked in Burnt Oak Broadway shortly before midday last Thursday (May 9).

Jalal Debella, 22, was arrested later that afternoon in his room at accommodation in Colindale, and subsequently charged with her murder.

He has also been charged with possession of a knife in public and appeared at the Old Bailey yesterday (May 14).

It is alleged that during the incident, a man approached Anita and had a brief exchange with her before he slapped her face several times and punched her.

When she tried to get away, it is claimed that he was seen to grab her and hold her “like a rag doll”, shaking her about.

The attacker then allegedly produced a knife and stabbed her a number of times as members of the public shouted at him to stop.

Anita collapsed into the road and emergency services were called.

There were attempts to resuscitate her, but she died at the scene at 12.22pm.

A preliminary cause of death was found to be sharp force injuries to the front of the chest and neck, prosecutor Philip McGhee said.

In a statement, her family said: “Anita Mukhey, 66 years old, was a married mother and grandmother devoted to her family, who also worked part-time in the NHS as a medical secretary.

“The family ask for privacy at this difficult time.”

At yesterday’s hearing, Debella appeared by video link from Wormwood Scrubs, and spoke only to confirm his identity.

He was remanded in custody to appear at a plea hearing on August 6.

Reporting by PA.