Man denies murdering Arts Club chef Mussie Imnetu

A man has pleaded not guilty to murdering Swedish chef Mussie Imnetu after allegedly attacking him near Notting Hill Carnival.

 

Imnetu, 41, was head chef at the Arts Club private members’ club and restaurant in Dubai. 

 

He was found unconscious with a head injury in Queensway, Bayswater, at 11:22pm on Monday 26 August.

 

Omar Wilson, 31, is accused of punching the chef multiple times in the head outside the Dr Power restaurant in the west London street.

 

Imnetu received immediate medical attention at the scene before being taken to hospital, where he died on 30 August.

 

Wilson was originally charged with causing grievous bodily harm but the charge was changed to murder following Imnetu’s death.

 

The defendant, of Napier Road, Leytonstone, appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from HMP Belmarsh on Monday to deny murdering the chef.

 

At a previous court hearing, prosecutor Julian Winship outlined the facts of the case and alleged Wilson “headbutted” Imnetu after the two interacted “in the area” of the carnival.

 

Around 70 seconds later, Wilson allegedly “punched the deceased five times to his head” and continued “punching him to the head” after he fell to the floor, Winship told the court.

 

A trial date has been set for 3 February 2025.

 

Imnetu had been visiting the UK on business from Dubai where he lived and worked as a chef, the Metropolitan Police said.

 

He left the Arts Club, a private members’ only club in Mayfair, on his own shortly after 1pm on 26 August, wearing a blue T-shirt and black jeans.

 

He is said to have later bought a white baseball cap before arriving alone at the Dr Power restaurant, which was busy with carnival attendees, at about 10.30pm.

 

The Arts Club Dubai website says Imnetu worked under celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, as well as Alain Ducasse.