Danyal Hussein sentencing: Satanic killer jailed for 35 years for murdering sisters in Wembley park
A satanic killer who pledged to "sacrifice only women" before murdering two sisters in a London park has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 35 years in prison.
Danyal Hussein, 19, murdered sisters Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, in a "shocking and chilling attack" in June last year, as the pair celebrated Ms Henry’s birthday with a group of friends.
Mrs Justice Whipple was unable to hand down a whole life order for the killings because Hussein is under 21-years-old.
Handing down a life sentence with a minimum term of 35 years, Mrs Justice Whipple condemned the killings of these "beautiful and gifted women" as the "most harrowing" of cases.
Officers investigating the murders believe Hussein watched the sisters for sometime before launching his "frenzied and relentless" attack in Fryent Country Park, Wembley, before stabbing Ms Henry eight times and Ms Smallman 28 times.
The sisters were reported missing the following day and their bodies were discovered by family and friends who went looking for them.
His trial heard how in October 2017, Hussein was referred to Prevent, the Home Office’s anti-radicalisation programme, by his teachers over concerns that he was vulnerable to radicalisation and violent extremism.
Shortly after he was discharged by Prevent, Hussein started to become "fascinated by demons" behind "locked doors in his bedroom".
During a search of Hussein’s bedroom, officers discovered a handwritten note in which Hussein pledged to "perform a minimum of six sacrifices every six months" and to "sacrifice only women".
Killer doesn't qualify for whole-life term because of his age
Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC told the court that but for his age, Hussein would qualify for a whole-life order.
He suggested the appropriate starting point for a minimum term was 30 years in jail.
"Significant" aggravating features included taking a knife to the scene, destruction of evidence, and disposal of Hussein's weapon and clothes, Mr Glasgow said.
He added that Hussein had failed to co-operate with experts preparing reports and the only relevant diagnosis was for autism.
The defendant maintains he was not the killer and never wrote a pact with a demon, the court heard.
Mr Glasgow told the court: "His offending is a product of his belief in Satanism and his belief you could enter into a bargain with a devil.
"That belief system is something he researched for some time."
Aside from the horror of the agreement, Mr Glasgow said it was "logical from the way he approached it and set out what he wanted to do and why he wanted to do it".
Hussein's lawyer, Ms Karmy-Jones, said he was "little more than a child with significant issues" at the time of the killings.
She said there remained many unanswered questions, adding: "We hope in time and after some treatment the family will get some answers as to how and why these offences came to happen".
The lawyer said: "He has got a loving family who are devastated by what has happened."
