Met Police detectives have released pictures of 16 witnesses they want to speak to after a chef mentored by Gordon Ramsay was attacked outside a restaurant and later died in hospital.
Mussie Imnetu, 41, was visiting the UK from Dubai when he was found unconscious with a head injury in the vicinity of Notting Hill Carnival on August 26.
He was discovered on Queensway at 11.22pm and taken to hospital. Omar Wilson, 31, appeared in court last Friday charged with grievous bodily harm with intent – but Mr Imnetu then died the same day.
Police are now treating Mr Imnetu’s death as murder, and the Crown Prosecution Service is reviewing the charge against Wilson. A decision is not expected to be made before his next court appearance later this month.
Michelin star chef Mr Imnetu, who hails from Eritrea but grew up in Sweden, had been working at the Arts Club in Dubai and was in London on a business trip to see the restaurant’s Dover Street branch.
Police said he left the restaurant at 1pm on Monday and then at around 10.30pm he went to the Dr Power restaurant on Queensway.
However, they are still keen to trace his movements in the nine and a half hours in between those checkpoints.
Officers are extremely keen to stress that none of the people in the images are suspected of a crime.
However, the information they hold could be vital to the ongoing investigation into Mr Imnetu’s death.
A Met source said: ‘This is indeed now a murder investigation.’
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, who is leading the probe, said: ‘Our investigation has progressed at pace and a man has been charged in connection with the attack.
However we are still very keen to hear from anyone who can help piece together Mussie’s movements between 13:00hrs when we know he left The Arts Club in Dover Street, W1, and when he arrived at Dr Power restaurant, in Queensway at 22:30hrs.
‘We have images of a number of people who were in or near the Dr Power restaurant at the time of the attack.
‘Are you one of the people pictured or do you recognise anyone? Did you hear or see something either before or after the attack that may help with the investigation?
‘I would like to stress that none of those pictured have done anything wrong.
‘Perhaps they were enjoying post carnival celebrations and may not live in the area but they could hold information that is important to the investigation and I urge them to contact us.’
has contacted the Crown Prosecution Service for comment.
Mr Imnetu was a highly regarded chef who had worked under the likes of Gordon ramsay, Marcus Wareing and Alain Ducasse.
His employers said in a statement: ‘After joining The Arts Club London in 2011, Mussie was part of the opening of the club’s Dubai location in 2020.
‘Known for his passion, calm demeanour and kindness, Mussie truly embodied the club’s essence.’
Mr Imnetu’s death was the second to hit this year’s Notting Hill Carnival, which was marred by eight stabbings and 334 arrests.
Cher Maximen, 32, was transported to hospital in a critical condition from Golborne Road on August 25 after she was caught in the middle of a fight between two groups of men.
The mother was brutally stabbed in front of her three-year-old daughter before being rushed away by paramedics, but tragically despite best efforts from medical staff, Cher died on August 31.
A court heard how Cher was stabbed with a ‘Rambo-style knife’ and suffered a cardiac arrest, after losing 20 units of blood, and had a collapsed lung.
Shakiel Thibou, 20, was charged with attempted murder, possessing a knife and violent disorder.
He attended court alongside his older brothers Sheldon, 24, and Shaeim, 21, who were also charged with violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said of the deaths: ‘It is heartbreaking that Cher Maximen and Mussie Imnetu have died after being attacked in separate incidents over the bank holiday weekend.
‘My thoughts are with their families and friends at this truly terrible time.
‘This violence is shocking, completely unacceptable and a betrayal of the values that (Notting Hill) Carnival was founded to celebrate.’
The Met Police had warned partygoers at the carnival to behave themselves, adding that they were ‘tired’ of parroting the same lines every year and violence breaking out nevertheless.
The organisers of Notting Hill Carnival said in a statement: ‘Notting Hill Carnival is shocked by these tragic deaths and our thoughts are with the victims’ families and the local community as a whole, which like so many others, has suffered all too often from the blight of violent crime.
‘We stand together against all violence and condemn these acts, which are against all carnival values and the millions of people who come in celebration of them.’