Violent thug Yusef Ali has failed in his bid to overturn a 14-year prison sentence for hurling an 18-year-old woman off a fourth-floor balcony after she spurned his advances.
Night of Brutality in Bermondsey
Back in 2019, Ali, then 19, rented a luxury flat in Empire Square, Bermondsey for a wild party. He’d never met the victim before but turned aggressive when she rejected him, grabbing her and pulling her hair.
The chaos escalated around 9am as a rival group showed up. Ali armed himself with a knife and stabbed two men during a violent brawl.
Desperate to escape, the 18-year-old tried to call a lift. But Ali gave chase and pushed her over the fourth-floor balcony when she cried for help.
Miraculously, the woman survived with a fractured neck and back. Police described her survival as “sheer luck.”
Appeal Shot Down
In March 2025, Ali claimed fresh expert evidence suggested the woman may have fallen accidentally rather than being pushed. An engineer insisted that based on centre of gravity, she would’ve fallen head-first if pushed.
But the Court of Appeal slammed the appeal, ruling the expert’s evidence should have been presented at trial.
“It would subvert the trial process if a defendant convicted at trial were generally free to mount on appeal an expert case which, if sound, could and should have been advanced before the jury,” said Mrs Justice Thornton.
The court cited trial evidence showing the victim leaning over the balcony, undermining Ali’s claim. His conviction and sentence were upheld.
Police Condemn Brutal Attack
Detective Constable Tom Waller from the Met’s Central South CID slammed Ali’s violent actions:
“Ali violently pushed an innocent woman off a fourth-floor internal balcony in a fit of rage, having already stabbed two men. It was only by sheer luck she wasn’t more seriously injured. This incident has had a huge impact on her life.”
Ali remains behind bars, serving time for grievous bodily harm, affray, and possession of a knife. His violent rampage at a luxury flat party rocked Bermondsey and cost a young woman her safety – but justice has stood firm.
