Umit Hayta has been sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment
Umit Hayta angrily attacked the pair at her home, four months after she filed for divorce.
Hayta, 39, and his ex-wife had been married for 15 years when she left him in October 2019.
On Friday, 21 February, Hayta turned up at her home in Homerton and started kicking the door in.
His ex-wife tried to hold the door shut but he eventually forced his way in and began attacking the 24-year-old male who was there, as she pleaded with him to stop.
While Hayta carried out his frenzied attack, his ex-partner shouted at her two young children to run out of the house, which they did.
She managed to flee to a neighbour’s address, where her children were sheltering, while the male victim ran to a nearby shop where he worked and asked a colleague for help.
He was taken to hospital with serious injuries including 18 stab wounds and a bleed on the brain.
Hayta’s ex-partner needed stitches for lacerations to her back and legs, which she received while trying to stop the attack.
Hayta fled the scene and drove back to his home in Second Avenue, Dagenham, where he phoned police and admitted what he had done.
Officers arrested Hayta at his home, where they also found blood-stained clothing and trainers.
He appeared at the Old Bailey in June and pleaded guilty to two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent.
Today, he was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment, with an extended licence of three years.
In a victim impact statement, Hayta’s ex-partner 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 runined 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.”
The male victim’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. His parents were uncontainable with pain and sorrow.
“He survived the surgery but was in a coma and we were given nil hope about him ever waking up. A miracle happened, one that surprised the team at the hospital as much as we and he survived.
“Every day, I am grateful that he is alive and with us, but unfortunately the new him is not the same person anymore. He has severe behavioural and cognitive difficulties and a diminished mental capacity. He is not able to function like an ordinary person anymore.
“He has spent his months bed bound in hospital and is currently still in a brain injury rehabilitation centre being cared for. A very fit and healthy young man has been left injured and scarred for life. His entire life has changed and his hopes and ambitions are dead. His old self is dead. While we are eternally grateful that he is alive, this situation has left our entire family scarred and distraught for a lifetime. He will never be like his old self again.”
Detective Constable Rajkumar Anton Arulnayagam said: “Hayta carried out a sustained, brutal attack on an innocent man simply because he was spending time with his ex-partner. 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.”
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Tags: Hackney, Dagenham
