Camden News - DAVID ST GEORGE Published: 30 October 2008
Accused ‘cannot remember’ head-in-canal killing
AN accused man has dramatically confessed at the Old Bailey to killing a neighbour whose severed head was recovered from the Grand Union Canal.
But speaking through an interpreter, Mahammed Boudjenane, 46, told jurors he “couldn’t remember” any details of the slaying and denied murdering fellow Algerian Lakhdar Ouyahia, 43.
The victim had a flat above Boudjenane in Kingsgate Road, Kilburn. Boudjenane further denies the false imprisonment and double rape of a mother-of-four who claimed she was held captive for many hours at his home.
Mr Ouyahia was attacked and struck with a claw hammer in February.
His head was hacked off and carried in a shopping bag by bus to a part of the canal near Maida Vale where it was later recovered by police divers.
The victim’s body was dumped behind a supermarket where a man found it shortly afterwards. The trial continues.