"Shut the door, he’s going to kill me."
Umit Hayta, aged 39, of Dagenham, was jailed for 18 years after he carried out a violent attack on his former wife and her male friend.
The Old Bailey heard that Hayta and his wife had been together for 15 years until they divorced in October 2019.
On the evening of February 21, 2020, she invited a man to her home in Homerton. They had known each other for two months and exchanged numbers that afternoon.
He had been at the house for 15 minutes when they heard loud banging on the door.
The woman strongly suspected that it was Hayta and ran to the front door.
She tried to hold it closed but Hayta kicked his way in and began attacking the 24-year-old man while his ex-wife screamed at him to stop.
He stabbed the man 18 times while his ex-wife was also stabbed in the back and legs whilst trying to stop the violent attack.
She shouted at her two young children to run out of the house. They managed to flee to the neighbour’s home where they were sheltering.
The male victim ran to a nearby shop where he worked and told a colleague:
“Shut the door, he’s going to kill me.”
His colleague drove his friend to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for 18 stab wounds and a bleed on the brain, which was life-threatening.
Doctors said he could have died if he was not treated as quickly as he was.
He has been left with life-threatening injuries and will be dealing with the neurological and emotional consequences with trained professionals for years.
Hayta’s ex-wife received stitches for her wounds.
Hayta fled and went home where he called the police, saying:
“I’ve done something wrong.”
“Something, stabbing something. I don’t wanna talk everything. Happened, some stabbing in my partner’s house. My wife’s house.
“Yeah I did it. I did it. I find her with some man.”
Officers arrested Hayta at his home where they also found bloodstained clothes and trainers. He was taken to an east London police station where he answered no comment to all questions.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent.
In a victim impact statement, the man’s cousin said: “[My cousin] is one of the kindest and most genuine people I have met.
“He was very well regarded and loved by not only his family but his friends too. He was a popular member of our local community and a role model to my children.
“He was never involved in any wrongdoing and had an amazing life with a promising future.
“He was stabbed 18 times by a violent attacker. To this day, we fail to apprehend how someone can physically carry out the act of such cruel violence. This was an unprovoked attack and he did nothing to deserve such cruelty.
“This attack has not just affected [my cousin] but has tormented our entire family.
“He survived the surgery but was in a coma and we were given nil hope about him ever waking up.”
The victim’s cousin went on to say that while the family are grateful that he is alive, he is not the same person anymore as he has “severe behavioural and cognitive difficulties and a diminished mental capacity”.
Hayta’s ex-wife said: “The incident had a great impact on my day-to-day life. It shook me and my two children, I never imagined this would happen to me. I never thought Umit would hurt me. If I didn’t run from the flat he would have stabbed me further.
“My injuries have now healed, however, they could have been fatal. I am very lucky to be alive.
“The incident itself comes to my mind time and time again. I feel guilty for what has happened as I always blame myself for what Umit has done to me and [the male victim.]
“Umit was a good father to his two children, however this has been ruined by a moment of madness. Umit has ruined my life, his life and his two children’s lives.
“What Umit did to me is not acceptable. I could not believe he had stabbed me. It will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Detective Constable Rajkumar Anton Arulnayagam said of the violent attack:
“Had Hayta’s victim not attended hospital when he did, he surely would have died from his injuries. However, his life has been changed forever.
“Hayta’s ex-partner also received some nasty injuries as she desperately tried to intervene and stop Hayta’s rampage.
“This was a terrifying ordeal for the victims and the two young children who were in the house at the time.
“The overwhelming evidence we had against Hayta left him with no option but to plead guilty, preventing his victims from the ordeal of having to re-live that evening by going to trial.
“I hope today’s sentencing gives them a small measure of comfort and closure and sends a clear message that those who commit violence will be brought to justice.”
On August 26, 2020, Hayta was sentenced to 18 years in prison, with an extended licence of three years.
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