Bus driver jailed for life after battering wife to death during first coronavirus lockdown

BUS DRIVER JAILED FOR LIFE AFTER BATTERING WIFE TO DEATH DURING FIRST CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN

A 66-year-old bus driver has received a life sentence following a severe murder during the initial COVID-19 lockdown in the UK.

Hussein Egal inflicted numerous injuries on his wife, Maryan Ismail, aged 57, using a variety of weapons, including a hammer, meat cleaver, table leg, pots and pans, and a ladder.

The attack caused 70 injuries, mainly to her head and chest, and her mutilated body was found covered with a blanket at her residence in Edmonton, north London, on April 6 of the previous year.

Egal confessed to the killing but insisted it was not murder, citing threats from his wife connected to COVID-19.

Although he claimed to have tested negative for the virus, records indicated he was working until 27 March.

The jury dismissed his argument of diminished responsibility after deliberating for two hours.

Judge Mark Lucraft QC remarked, “Only you can truly explain your motivation for this assault.

In the period before and after, you mostly continued with your daily life.” The judge referred to a psychiatric report which showed Egal was not suffering from a major mental illness but was in a state of 'intense rage' during the murder and was mostly concerned with himself afterward.

The court described Ms Ismail as a 'kind and calm person with a good heart.' Her son, residing in the Netherlands, was unable to attend her funeral.

Following conviction, Egal was sentenced to at least 22 years in prison, with the jury rejecting his defense, and the judge condemning his actions and lack of remorse.