Man Who Carried Head On Bus Jailed For Life

An Algerian man, who killed his neighbour and carried the victim's head on a bus, has been jailed for life.

Mohamed Boudjenane, 46, from Kingsgate Road, was found guilty of murdering fellow Algerian Lakhdar Ouyahia on February 4 this year.

The jury at the Old Bailey heard how Boudjenane dumped the body in bedding in a supermarket storage cage. A member of the public later discovered the body.

Earlier, the 46-year-old had abducted a mother-of four as she was going to sing in a choir. The woman was subsequently subject to an 11-hour ordeal at his flat in Kingsgate Road, Kilburn, north-west London. She was raped, beaten, her head shaven and tied up with shoelaces. Boudjenane only let her go the following day, when she agreed to marry him.

The Old Bailey heard Boudjenane was obsessed with the married woman from Oxford, who had rejected his advances. He had met her at a party.

The accused was found guilty of murder and was told he would have to serve a minimum of 22 years.

He was also jailed for a concurrent 15 years for rape and false imprisonment.

Judge Christopher Moss told him: "You are a very dangerous individual. It will be for others to determine whether it will ever be safe for you to be released."

William Boyce, QC, prosecuting, said within hours of releasing the woman, Boudjenane turned on the doorstep of his upstairs neighbour, 43-year-old Mr Ouyahia.

He falsely accused him of having an affair with the woman, and proceeded to hit him over the head with what was believed to be a claw hammer.

His victim's headless body was discovered at the back of Somerfield's supermarket in Kingsgate Place.

He had also carried the man's head in an orange plastic bag on a bus to the Regent's canal at Maida Vale, where it was later discovered by police divers.

Judge Christopher Moss QC jailed the Algerian for life, with a minimum term of 22 years.

(JM)