Summary: A catfight between a Cambridge law student and another woman ensued over a kitchen pot.
Don’t go borrowing this woman’s stuff without asking! A second-year Anglia Ruskin law student attacked another woman over a borrowed pan. Obile Samson-Ichendu, a law student, was wielding a saucepan and eight-inch kitchen knife when she came at Cynthia Uche, according to the Cambridge News.
Sampson-Ichendu, 19, admitted during a hearing before the Cambridge Magistrates Court that she threatened Uche, 20, with a knife. She pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place. With no previous convictions, Sampson-Ichendu will not have to serve time behind bars.
The incident, as reported to the court, involved the two woman. They allegedly got into an altercation over Sampson-Ichendu borrowing a pot from Uche around 9:45 pm on March 28.
Uche went to a student accommodation caretaker to be a mediator in their disagreement. Uche approached the caretaker at Aston House, part of the CB1 development near Cambridge Station. Uche and her two friends told the caretaker she had been locked out of her apartment. The four went up several floors of Bragg House, where Sampson-Ichendu lived.
The caretaker when past Sampson-Ichendu’s flat but instead of following him, Uche ran into the flat and locked the door behind her. The caretaker told the authorities that he heard “all hell break loose.” He got his master key and opened the door to Sampson Ichendu’s flat where he found the two wrestling on the floor. He was able to get the two women apart and Uche and her to friends out of the building.
It was then that “the caretaker then saw Sampson-Ichendu run towards him brandishing a saucepan and a kitchen knife. She was shouting threat towards Uche.” He intervened again, forcing Sampson-Ichendu’s arm holding the knife against the wall. He took her back to her apartment but she reemerged with the weapon again. Still angry with Uche, Sampson-Ichendu kept lunging with the knife with a stabbing motion towards Uche.
The caretaker was able to get the knife away from Sampson-Ichendu and give it to the police. Both women were arrested. Uche also admitted to assault, and her case is still ongoing.
Sampson-Ichendu’s representative, Vaneeta Sharma, explained that she knew her actions were “over and beyond” acceptable behavior but it was an isolated incident. She said, “She was in the second year of her law degree but due to this incident has now been suspended and is considering continuing her studies at a different university. My client also suffered with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after this incident. She was also suffering with anxiety and depression at the time, which exacerbated her reaction to the incident itself. She herself suffered an elbow injury due to Miss Uche’s actions and had to have her arm in a sling, though there was no fracture.”
Judge Jonathan Cooper agreed that Sampson-Ichendu’s behavior was unacceptable but that immediate custody was not the right sentence. He said, “You had sought a friend’s help to resolve the situation between yourself and Miss Uche, and had suggested alternatives to diffuse the situation before this event. You took the knife plainly in the heat of the moment, but as part of an ongoing altercation and that is unacceptable in any circumstances. You were and continue to be a promising student and a conviction for these two serious offences will have an impact on you.”
Sampson-Ichendu was given a four-month prison sentence but suspended for 12 months. She must follow curfew restrictions for two months, pay £425 in court costs, and fulfill a 10-day rehabilitation course.
Do you think Sampson-Ichendu should be given a second chance to gain a law degree? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
To learn more about other knife attacks, read these articles:
- American Woman Killed in London’s Russell Square Knife Attack
- Uber Driver Attacked with Kitchen Knife
- Guam Attorney Charged with Stabbing Person Outside Bar
Photo: cambridge-news.co.uk