Islington man admits killing lecturer who was out posting cards announcing birth of daughter

A man with a history of mental illness has admitted killing an academic in a motiveless attack in Islington, north London. Dr Jeroen Ensink, 41, was attacked when he left his home to post cards announcing the birth of his daughter at lunchtime on 29 December 2015. Femi Nandap, 23, admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

The Old Bailey heard that just six days before launching his attack on Dr Ensink, Nandap had three charges against him dropped including assaulting a policeman and possessing two knives. The charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that even if the earlier charges against Nandap had been upheld he would still have been released on bail and free to attack the victim.

Holland-born Dr Ensink, a specialist in water sanitation who was working to improve health in Africa, had gone out to post cards announcing the birth of his daughter just 11 days ago. When he didn't return, his wife Nadja went to find him and saw the street cordoned off and the cards splattered with blood. Nandap had approached from behind, stabbing him repeatedly in the back.

Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Piscopo, of the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "Dr Jeroen Ensink left his home that lunchtime to post a number of cards to friends and family to inform them of the recent birth of his daughter. What should have been the happiest time of Jeroen's life was ended by the violent and unprovoked actions of Nandap.

"Jeroen had only walked a short distance when he was approached by Nandap, who launched into a vicious attack with a knife. He did not stand a chance, and now, sadly, his daughter will grow up without her father in her life."

Nandap, speaking via closed circuit TV from high security mental hospital Broadmoor, spoke only to confirm his name and enter a plea of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Julian Hendy from Hundredfamilies, which campaigns on behalf of their families of victims of mentally ill attackers, told the BBC it was "another deeply distressing case of a ... young family destroyed by the violent actions of a seriously mentally ill offender".