A man has been found guilty of the brutal murder of a mother in front of her three-year-old daughter during Notting Hill Carnival’s family day.
Shakeil Thibou, 20, was convicted at the Old Bailey of fatally stabbing Cher Maximen, 32, in the groin with a large knife on 25 August last year. The horrifying incident unfolded amidst crowds of carnival-goers and took place in broad daylight, just moments after Thibou had attempted to stab another man, Adjei Isaac, who was retreating from him.
The jury returned a majority verdict of 10 to 2, convicting Thibou of murder, attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of an offensive weapon. His elder brother, Sheldon Thibou, 25, was found guilty of violent disorder and assaulting PC Oliver Mort, who bravely intervened to stop the violence. A third brother, Shaeim Thibou, 22, was cleared of violent disorder but convicted of assaulting the same officer.
The courtroom erupted with a cry of “yes” from Ms Maximen’s family as the verdicts were read out, following over 50 hours of deliberations by the jury.
Speaking outside the court, TJ Jacobs, a relative of Ms Maximen, paid tribute to the woman known affectionately as “Princess Cher” and “Cherbear”, describing her as “pure magic — radiant, loving, passionate, and kind”.
“She brought creativity, style, and flawless flair to everything she did,” said Ms Jacobs. “She was a devoted mother, granddaughter, niece, sister, and friend. This senseless act of violence has cut short a life that had so much more to offer and was only just beginning to blossom.”
She also called on the Government to address the root causes of knife crime. “This is not just about reducing crime,” she said. “It’s about saving lives, restoring hope, and building strong, safe communities.”
Ms Maximen’s grandmother, Vyleen, gave a moving tribute, saying: “Cher was my first born grandchild, my friend. I held her in my arms when she was born and never imagined I’d never see her get married or have more children. I won’t hear her shout ‘hello nanny’ through my front door again.”
The court had heard how a disturbance broke out just before 6pm on Golborne Road, near the Trellick Tower, close to where Ms Maximen stood with her group. A scuffle erupted between the Thibou brothers and at least two other males, drawing the attention of PC Mort, who tried to intervene.
As the crowd parted, Sheldon Thibou was seen wielding a stun gun, while Shaeim also struck out at the officer. In the chaos, Shakeil lunged repeatedly at Mr Isaac with a “huge” zombie-style knife. Mr Isaac narrowly avoided serious injury by backing away.
Tragically, Ms Maximen was knocked to the ground in the melee. As she tried to get to her feet, she appeared to raise her leg toward Shakeil Thibou, who then stabbed her directly in the groin. The injury proved fatal.
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Thibou later claimed he had found the knife at the carnival and was acting in self-defence. He insisted Ms Maximen’s death was accidental. But the prosecution argued that he brought the weapon with intent to cause harm, and another knife was later recovered from his bedroom.
Sentencing has been set for 16 May, with Thibou facing a mandatory life sentence.
Detective Chief Inspector Alex Gammampila from the Met Police condemned the attack: “Cher was a loving mother who came to enjoy a community celebration. Instead, her life was ended in the most senseless and horrific way. Shakeil came armed for violence — not festivity.”
Emma Currie from the Crown Prosecution Service added: “This profoundly tragic case has left a child without her mother and a family devastated. The jury’s verdict brings a measure of justice for Cher and all who loved her.”
As Notting Hill Carnival’s legacy continues, there are growing calls for better safety and preventative measures to ensure tragedies like this never happen again.
