Caught on camera: Shocking footage shows moment bus passenger 'tried to strangle man sitting in front of him with a scarf'

Homeless Eric Mjola, 33, 'throttled' security guard Reynolds Quadjovie

Alleged victim was on his way to first day at work at London Tesco

He asked for directions before Mjola called him 'crazy' and attacked

Accused says alleged death threat was misheard because of his accent



This is the moment a bus passenger travelling to his first day in a new job was attacked by a man who strangled him with a scarf and told him: 'I want to kill you', a jury heard today,

Homeless Eric Mjola, 33, throttled security guard Reynolds Quadjovie, who was heard choking by another passenger and passed out, Isleworth Crown Court was told.

Mr Quadjovie had just asked another passenger if they were near the Tesco where he was starting work when Mjola said to him: 'Are you crazy?'.

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On camera: A jury was shown this CCTV footage today, which shows Eric Mjola, 33, throttling security guard Reynolds Quadjovie

Allegations: The victim says that the attacker told him: 'I want to kill you' while he was throttled

Drama: Reynolds Quadjovie then slumped forward during the attack, bur Mjola denies he told him he wanted to kill him

The jury were shown CCTV footage of the defendant springing towards him and then placing his scarf around Mr Quadjovie's neck.

'He was killing me, there's no doubt about that,' Mr Quadjovie told the court. 'He meant it and he meant what he was doing.

'He was in complete control of the bus, people were lying down afraid of their lives. You can see on the image how I was struggling, how he was killing me.

'At that time I was completely in his hands.'

Mjola, of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Mr. Quadjovie as they travelled on a single decker C1 bus through Earl's Court in west London on December 1, 2012.

In his statement to police Mr Quadjovie said the defendant told him: 'I want to kill you,' while strangling him. 'He said this several times.'

Chain of events: Mr Quadjovie had just asked another passenger if they were near the Tesco where he was starting work when Mjola, behind him, said to him: 'Are you crazy?'

Scary: The accused can then be seen removing his scarf before he wrapped it around the security guard's neck

Reaction: Fellow passengers rushed from their seats after hearing the alleged victim choking

Gone: As the bus went through Earls Court in London the accused can then be seen leaving the bus. He denies attempted murder

The CCTV footage showed a young male passenger willing to intervene, but repeatedly being held back by his mother and another young man reportedly shouts: 'You can't do that, you're killing him.'

At one point Mr Quadjovie slumps against the window to his left, but seconds later is seen on the CCTV running down the bus's aisle towards the driver.

'I was lucky enough and God was on my side,' he told the court. 'I made the scarf a bit longer and was able to get it over my head.'

Another passenger told the jury Mjola chased Mr Quadjovie down the aisle repeatedly shouting: 'I'm going to kill you,' confirming she heard choking behind her moments before.

The victim says a finger on his right hand is permanently damaged as a result of trying to loosen the scarf around his neck.

'I'm handicapped in that finger. I'm suffering emotionally and physically. I'm traumatised.

'I have suffered a loss of income from having to spend months at home, I still have debts and was not able to pay my rent.

'He has completely taken my life in a bad way.'

Mjola claims he was misheard, due to his accent, by Mr. Quadjovie and the witness and was saying: 'I won't kill you.'