'VIGILANTE' SPEAKS OUT
A ‘VIGILANTE’ driver who mowed down and killed a knifeman who stabbed his ex-wife to death has today revealed that his "instant thought" was to protect her.
Wafah Chkaifi, 43, was stabbed to death by her ex Leon McCaskie, 41, after dropping her children off at school in Maida Vale, West London.
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Eyewitnesses heard the driver sceream "what have I done" when he ploughed into violent McCaskie after he stabbed the mum-of-two.
Police arrested the 26-year-old driver on suspicion of murder, but have since released him on bail after quizzing him.
The driver of the car, known only as Abraham, has broken his silence over the horror - saying his “instant” thought was to “protect the woman who had been stabbed and the public.”
In a statement he said: “I am a person of good character. I have never been arrested before in my life.
“I witnessed a man repeatedly stabbing a defenceless woman on the pavement a short distance in front of my car.
“Members of the public were attempting to intervene. The attacker was wielding a knife and was threatening those brave citizens too.
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“I am deeply sorry that the man I tried to stop from attacking other people has died. It was never my intention to harm him, I just wanted to shop him from hurting anybody further.
“My only regret is that god did not allow me to be present at the scene sooner so that my intervention may have saved the life of the young woman concerned.”
Thousands of people have backed the driver as a "hero" after his actions, and set up a petition to stop him being charged.
Abraham added: "My instant thought was to protect the woman who had been stabbed and the public who were also being threatened.
"The vehicles ahead of me moved off which gave me the opportunity to intervene.
"I drove my vehicle towards the attacker in order to get him away from the woman he was attacking.
"I did not intend to harm the attacker, I only intended to protect those being attacked. My vehicle struck the attacker, and he was taken under my car causing it to stall, I could not reverse my car to free him.
"I and other passers-by attempted to lift the car away from the attacker so we could provide the man with first aid. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful in this.
"I understand that the police are doing their job and my being arrested is not unusual.
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"However, I do not see why I as the person who tried to assist in the defence of other human beings remain arrested and on bail under suspicion of murder.
"I have asked my solicitor to contact the Metropolitan Police to request that they consider de-arresting me and begin treating me as a witness to a tragic event rather than as a criminal as they currently are.
"I am a family man and wish to keep my family protected from these ill-fated events."
So far more than 20,000 people have given their support to Abraham, with dozens saying that he should not be “prosecuted for trying to save her life”.
Police confirmed that the driver had been fully co-operating with the investigation and was bailed to a date in February.
Heartbroken family members of Wafah, also known as Yasmin, have also hailed the driver as a “hero” for trying to save the mum who had a “heart of gold.”
A family spokeswoman told The Sun: “The man who killed my sister is a demon.
"The man who killed him is a hero. He deserves a medal from the queen."
McCaskie had been handed an interim stalking order by Met cops in relation to his ex, after years of abuse.
He had reportedly failed to turn up to court in early January after being charged with breaching the restraining order last year.
'HE WILL KILL ME'
Wafah had previously confided in friends about how her ex had put cameras in her flat, stolen her post and phone in a sick bid to access her personal information.
Her family claim that she secured the order against him after their divorce three years ago, and was so terrified of him she installed a panic alarm in her flat.
Her son said: "He was ordered to keep away from her but recently had started stalking her, which got worse over the past few weeks.
"The whole family was worried about her ex because he could be very violent.
"The police should have done something when he didn’t turn up to court last week."
Family members paid tribute to Ms Chkaifi,a registered childminder, and said: "She was full of life, always stayed positive and always saw the best in everyone.
"Wafah loved to laugh, dance and leave a special impact on everyone's life that got to share it with her. She has indeed left many broken from this awful and tragic news.
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"Wafah was the most pure and genuine soul you would meet. She has left two amazing boys who will continue her legacy of being pure souls."
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "A Stalking Prevention Order had been obtained against the deceased man, as a matter of course there will be a review by the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards NPTD further."
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The scene in Maida Vale following 'horror incident' as driver 'mows down knifeman who stabbed young mum at school gates
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