A killer was free to stab a top engineer to death after the CPS wrongly dropped knife crime charges against him six days before, an inquest heard.
Dr Jeroen Ensink, 41, was killed by Timchang (Femi) Nandap, 25, outside his home in Hilltop Crescent, Islington as he went to post baby cards after the birth of his daughter.
Nandap was suffering from cannabis induced psychosis and might have been in jail if the CPS had not decided to discontinue allegations of assaulting police and possessing a knife.
Nadja Ensink-Teich, pictured in 2017 with daughter Fleur, had to raise £25,000 for an inquest into her husband’s killing after she was refused legal aid
Gerallt Evans, who is Deputy Chief Prosecutor for the CPS told the inquest into Dr Ensink’s death: ‘That decision was incorrect.’
His killer had appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ court charged with possession of a knife and assaulting police and was granted bail on 12 October 2015.
The prosecuting lawyer believed there was enough evidence to bring the case and Nandap was granted bail and went to Nigeria for medical treatment.
On his return, the case was handed to another CPS lawyer, Julie Okoh, who reviewed the evidence and felt it was not strong enough.
She based her decision on the fact there was only one witness and her belief it was unclear Nandap had been in a public place when he had the knife.
But Mr Evans, admitted there was no reason why the case could not be heard on the evidence of Ms Adina Chiper who was the one witness.
He told St Pancras Coroner’s Court: ‘I accept there is no rule that says you cannot prosecute with the evidence of one witness.
‘The prosecutor reached the judgement that the witness alone was not strong enough.
‘There is no reason why the witness should have fabricated that account. Although it was not admissible evidence, it appears, other witness said they had seen the knife as well.
Dr Jeroen Ensink, left, was killed by Nandap, 25, outside his home in Islington on December 29, 2015 – days after he became a father for the first time
‘If you read her statement she appears to have a very clear view.
‘The case was allocated to a senior Crown prosecutor, as is standard practice.
‘She was asked to review the case, to make sure it was ready for trial. The prosecutor made a review. She came to the conclusion that there was not a realistic prospect of conviction.
‘I concluded that decision was wrong when I looked at it after.’
The victim’s wife Nadja Ensink-Teich believes Nandap presented a clear danger and the CPS failed in their duty to protect the public.
The CPS offered an apology for dropping charges against Nandap to the police officer he had assaulted before he killed Dr Ensink on 29 December 2015
Happier times: Nadja Ensink-Teich on holiday in the Netherlands with her husband Dr Jeroen Ensink, at a time when she was 5 months pregnant with their daughter
Pc Adam Wellings received a letter on 2 December 2016 from the CPS saying: ‘It is considered it was incorrect. The purpose of this letter is to offer you an apology for that decision’
The officer told the inquest he had expected and wanted Nandap to be prosecuted saying: ‘I got punched more than once it was not the nicest experience – but unfortunately it is common for assaults like that not to get prosecuted.
‘I got a letter saying that the decision had been made by the CPS to go with no further action and apparently that was because there was not enough evidence.
‘I was a bit disappointed and confused as to why he was not charged.’
Pc Wellings said: ‘We have gone through quite a violent episode and that has helped with things getting missed.
Nandap was in bare feet when he approached Dr Ensink, who was heard to shout ‘no, not a knife’ as he was chased by the killer around a parked car before falling to the ground.
Timchang ‘Femi’ Nandap, 25, stabbed a leading engineer to death while in the grip of a psychotic episode and told police ‘leave him, he’s dead anyway’ as an officer attempted to resuscitate the man
The victim had his hands up to try and hold the knife away, but Nandap continued to stab him repeatedly, and was ‘calm and smiling’ according to eye witnesses.
Nandap only stopped stabbing the victim’s lifeless body when he was approached by an off-duty special constable, Maria Hegarty, who had been studying in her house on the same road.
She sprinted across the street and began chest compressions, but the crazed killer loomed over her saying: ‘Leave him, he is dead.’
The biologist, who worked at the prestigious London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, was pronounced dead at the scene at around 2.30pm.
Nandap, who came to the UK to study economic development, was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after admitting manslaughter at the Old Bailey in 2016.
The inquest which is being held with a jury, continues.
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