KHALIL ASHRAF ON THE ISLE OF DOGS: MENTAL HEALTH ORDER AFTER TRAGIC SISTER'S DEATH IN MILLWALL

In a tragic incident that has shocked the local community on the Isle of Dogs, Khalil Ashraf, a 32-year-old man, was found responsible for the death of his sister, Sarah Ashraf, during a visit to his residence in Millwall. The events unfolded in early January when neighbors, concerned about the presence of blood at the entrance of Ashraf's two-bedroom flat on East Ferry Road, contacted the police. The flat is situated in a neighborhood characterized by luxury tower blocks, near Crossharbour DLR station.

When officers arrived at the scene, they observed that the blood had been cleaned up, but forensic investigations confirmed the presence of Sarah's blood around the flat. Inside, they discovered her body in a bedroom, with evidence indicating she had been strangled. The post-mortem examination established that her death was caused by compression of the neck, a result of violent strangulation.

Sarah Ashraf, aged 35, had come to visit her brother, partly out of concern for his mental health. Despite her intentions to care for him, Khalil Ashraf was not diagnosed with any specific mental illness prior to the incident. However, subsequent psychiatric assessments revealed that he was suffering from paranoid psychosis at the time of the killing, which significantly impaired his mental state.

During police questioning, Ashraf admitted to choking his sister, claiming that he was 'instructed by Satan and his Buddhist leader' to commit the act. His bizarre justification and the forensic evidence led to his arrest and subsequent court appearances. On January 8, he appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court charged with murder. However, he denied the murder charge and was later transferred to the Old Bailey, where he pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

At the Old Bailey, medical professionals confirmed that Ashraf was experiencing paranoid psychosis at the time of the killing, which rendered him mentally ill. The court heard that his family was devastated by the tragedy, with Detective Chief Inspector Paul Considine commenting on the case. He stated, 'The family have been devastated by this tragic event. Sarah recognized that her brother's mental health was deteriorating and went to his flat to care for him. We will never know what the catalyst was that led to killing his sister. But he and his family will have to live with Sarah's loss for the rest of their lives.'

Following the court proceedings, Ashraf was sentenced to be detained under a Hospital Order pursuant to the Mental Health Act of 1983. The Crown Prosecution Service accepted his plea of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility, and he was committed to a mental health institution. He remains detained until medical professionals determine that he is no longer a danger to the public and is mentally fit for release.