The heartbroken family of a woman brutally stabbed to death in front of her young daughter has revealed the little girl’s ‘painful’ last memory of her mother.
Innocent bystander Cher Maximen, 32, was stabbed to death with a zombie knife when caught up in gang violence during the Notting Hill Carnival in west London last year.
Killer Shakeil Thibou, 20, had attempted to target a man called Adjei Isaac when the nightmare unfolded on August 25, 2024. He was today found guilty of Ms Maximen’s murder.
The mother’s cousin Lawrence Hoo has revealed the idea of her three-year-old daughter witnessing her on the ground fills the family with grief and anger.
‘She saw her mother drop to the floor, and then she saw her mother bleed. That’s the daughter’s last living memory of her mother,’ he told Sky News.
‘And to live with that, knowing that that’s happened, that somebody did that. That’s why it’s so hard and that’s where the rage comes from.’
During the chaotic scenes, model Ms Maximen was knocked to the floor. As she struggled to her feet, Thibou raised his knife and deliberately stabbed her in the groin.
Ms Maximen, who also worked as a clothing designer, died six days later from her injuries on August 31.
Thibou claimed he was trying to defend himself from Mr Isaac and said he stabbed Ms Maximen by mistake but the jury convicted him of murder, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Isaac and having an offensive weapon, namely a knife.
As the guilty verdict was announced, members of Ms Maximen’s family broke down in tears, with one relative shouting ‘yes’ in relief – and her family later told Sky News: ‘The feeling of loss is overwhelming, but so is the feeling of rage.’
They continued: ‘She [Ms Maximen’s daughter] is aware that on that day, something happened to her mother.
‘She saw her mother drop to the floor, and then she saw her mother bleed. That’s the daughter’s last living memory of her mother.
‘And to live with that, knowing that that’s happened, that somebody did that. That’s why it’s so hard and that’s where the rage comes from.’
Vyleen Maximen, the mother’s grandmother, said: ‘Cher, my first born grandchild, my friend. I held you in my arms when you were born. 32 years of loving, of laughing, playing, crying and holidaying with you. I will no longer have that pleasure ever again. Not seeing you get married or have more children.
‘Life will never be the same. Ever. We just have to live life, the best that we can and I will raise your daughter Cher, until my last breath. I will never hear your key opening my front door and shouting ‘Hello Nanny’.’
TJ Jacobs, relative of Cher and Godmother to Cher’s daughter, said: ‘We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the jury for helping ensure justice is served for our beloved Cher Maximen – affectionately known to us as Princess Cher, Ri Ri, Churbs, Churburt, Cher Bear and Bear.
‘What happened to us has completely turned our lives upside down. Losing Cher has filled our hearts with immeasurable sadness.
‘Cher was pure magic – radiant, loving, passionate, and kind. She brought creativity, style and flawless flair to everything she did. She was a dedicated mother, a devoted granddaughter, niece, sister, and friend.
‘This senseless act of violence has cut short a life that had so much more to offer the world and was only just beginning to blossom. Like many young adults, life hadn’t always been easy for Cher, but she was just discovering who she was and who she could become.
‘Even when life felt unfair, Cher remained kind, caring, and a fierce protector of those she loved – qualities that were evident even in her final moments. Her smile lit up every corner of every room, and her laugh echoed through hallways.
‘Her journey was an example of resilience against the odds, showing that no matter the challenges, young people can emerge with strength, determination, and the will to strive for better.
‘Our family is devastated, but we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the emergency responders, medical professionals, and law enforcement officers involved in this case.’
Thibou’s brother Sheldon Thibou, 25, was also found guilty of violent disorder and assaulting Pc Oliver Mort, who tried to intervene.
A third brother, 22-year-old Shaeim Thibou, was cleared of violent disorder but convicted of assaulting Pc Mort after the jury deliberated for 50 hours and 33 minutes.
The Old Bailey heard that a disturbance broke out at about 5.48pm between the defendants and at least two other males close to where Ms Maximen was standing with her group.
The crowd parted as Sheldon Thibou got into a physical confrontation with the males, prompting Pc Mort to step in to break it up, jurors had heard.
Sheldon Thibou was holding a stun gun as he and Shaeim hit out at the officer, the court heard.
Meanwhile, Shakeil Thibou thrust a ‘huge’ knife repeatedly towards Mr Isaac’s stomach – only missing him because the intended victim drew back.
Ms Maximen was knocked to the ground after Mr Isaac came into contact with her and then managed to partially get to her feet, Mr Brown said.
She appeared to lift her right leg at Shakeil Thibou who raised the knife directly towards her and deliberately stabbed her in her groin, jurors heard.
Mr Brown said: ‘The injuries inflicted on Ms Maximen were fatal – the defendant had killed her. It was a truly shocking attack, and regarded as such by those around it.’
Judge Philip Katz, KC, excused the jurors from any further jury service for the rest of their lives, saying they had been compelled to watch ‘very difficult’ footage.
Speaking after the verdict was delivered, Ms Maximen’s cousin Lawrence Hoo told Sky News: ‘I’ve lost my parents. I’ve lost my brother. Nothing has felt like this ever. It is the cruellest thing, it truly is.’
Prosecutor Edward Brown earlier told the court: ‘Cher Maximen was killed and the knife, the weapon used to kill her, was wielded by the first defendant, Shakeil Thibou.
‘Cher Maximen was visiting the carnival too. She has a daughter aged three and her daughter was very close by when her mother, Cher, was attacked and killed.
‘Cher Maximen suffered a terrible injury from which she died. The knife wielded by the defendant you will see – not physically here in court as the defendant got rid of it soon after- you will see camera footage of the fatal attack itself.
‘It is a shocking weapon to have, let alone to use, but use it the defendant did and with devastating consequences. He killed Cher Maximen with it.
‘Moments, and I mean moments, before he stabbed Cher Maximen, the first defendant carried out an equally horrifying attack, on a man who was already retreating from him and from his knife. He was lucky. His name is Adjei Isaac.
‘In fact, he in those moments he may not have realised, or does not now realise, the real danger he faced.
‘He was able to retreat and just draw his body back away from the knife as the defendant Shakeil Thibou thrust it towards his stomach and abdomen – more than once.
‘There were hundreds of people in the area – the carnival was in full swing and the location was just off the actual carnival route.
‘Around 5.48pm, a disturbance broke out close to, but not initially directly involving, Cher Maximen and her group but it did involve each of the three defendants and, it would appear, at least two other males.
‘The crowd around the defendants parted, evidently as a reaction to their violence.
‘Sheldon and Shaeim Thibou engaged in a physical confrontation with two other males. A police officer, PC Mort, intervened using his baton in an attempt to break it up.
‘Sheldon, and then Shaeim, hit out at the police officer. Sheldon Thibou was holding a stun gun in his right hand at the time. He also had another, possibly sharp or pointed, object in his left hand.
‘It was contemporaneous to those events that Shakeil Thibou was engaged directly with another man – Adjei Isaac.
‘Shakeil had that huge knife with him, described by one witness as a ‘zombie’ knife.
‘He lunged with the knife directly at Adjei Isaac’s torso, and repeatedly.
‘Isaac tried to grab hold of Shakeil’s arms and in those moments recoiled away from the knife.
‘The knife, with no thanks to the first defendant, just missed him, and only by a very closest of margins.
‘What would have happened had he not instinctively recoiled, pulling his stomach away from the knife, does not need any imagination.
‘You will see that Cher Maximen had been knocked to the ground in the immediate events as Adjei Isaac recoiled from Shakeil Thibou’s knife.
‘In his efforts to save himself from the knife attack, he had come into contact with Cher. It is clear that she had simply got caught up in the events.
‘Shakeil stumbled over the ladies who were sitting down, including Cher but steadied himself on the hoarding.
‘Cher Maximen in those moments grabbed hold of Shakeil Thibou’s coat, pulled it, managing to get partially to her feet.
‘She appeared to attempt to strike out with her hand at Shakeil who was of course still holding that knife in his hand.
‘Cher took a step towards him and at the same time attempted to raise her right leg towards him.
‘It was at this moment that Shakeil Thibou raised the knife directly towards Cher Maximen and deliberately thrust it towards her, stabbing her in the groin.
‘The injuries inflicted on Ms Maximen were fatal- the defendant had killed her. It was a truly shocking attack – and indeed regarded as such by those around it.
‘Ms Maximen fell backwards to the ground. Shakeil Thibou ran away – with his brothers.’
Shakeil’s face showed ‘pure anger’ when he stabbed Ms Maximen, Mr Brown said.
Police had reported that the crowds on the festival’s ‘family day’ were becoming ‘semi-hostile’ in the late afternoon.
When Sheldon was arrested on August 27, a stun gun was found along with machete knives.
Shakeil was arrested in a hostel where large knives were found. He has no previous convictions but one caution for a drug offence.
Sheldon two convictions for possession of cannabis in 2020 and dangerous driving in July 2024.
Shakeil, from Hammersmith in west London, denied but was convicted of murder and having an offensive weapon.
He was cleared of attempted murder in relation to Mr Isaac but convicted of attempting to cause GBH with intent.
Sheldon, from Fulham in south-west London, was convicted of violent disorder and assault on an emergency worker.
Shaeim, from West Kensington in west London, denied and was cleared of violent disorder but was convicted of assault on an emergency worker.
Shakeil will be sentenced on May 16 while his brothers will be dealt with on a date to be fixed.
Ms Maximen’s tragic death was one of two murders surrounding last year’s Notting Hill Carnival.
A self-proclaimed ‘monster’ was found guilty in February of beating a top chef near the carnival and leaving him dying in the street to go clubbing.
Omar Wilson, 32, repeatedly punched and kicked Mussie Imnetu during a row outside Dr Power restaurant in Queensway, west London, on the evening of last August 26.
Mr Imnetu, 41, who had worked under chefs Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, was said to have been ‘heavily intoxicated’ at the time of the incident and died later in hospital.
A jury was shown graphic CCTV footage in which Wilson was seen approaching Mr Imnetu and headbutting him.
About a minute later, Wilson punched Mr Imnetu five times in the head, causing him to fall to the ground.
Wilson continued to punch Mr Imnetu repeatedly while he was on his hands and knees, then kicked him in the head.
Mr Imnetu, who worked at The Arts Club, a private member’s establishment, was taken to hospital and died four days later without regaining consciousness, jurors heard.
In the aftermath of the attack, Wilson told an associate he had ‘crossed the line’.
In a message, he admitted: ‘There’s a monster in me, man, and it’s just like sometimes it comes out.
‘And I think I’ve messed up now, I’ve messed up, everything’s finished.’
Asked how the carnival was going, he replied: ‘Can’t lie. I did the hands ting (sic) and I think it’s a manslaughter,’ jurors heard.
During his Old Bailey trial, Wilson claimed he acted in self-defence, telling jurors: ‘I just regret that somebody’s life was taken while I was trying to defend mine.’
The jury deliberated for a total of 22 hours and 34 minutes before finding him guilty of the chef’s murder by a majority of 10 to two.