Man guilty of brutal manslaughter of Kirsty Ashley
Yahya Aboukar, 27, from Earlham Grove, East London, was convicted of manslaughter at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 17 November. He is set for sentencing on 18 November, after a savage attack left Kirsty Louise Ashley dead.
Boxing Day nightmare
Police were called just before midnight on Boxing Day 2021 to a property in Newham. Inside Aboukar’s bedroom, officers found signs of a violent struggle. A barbell weight, a claw hammer, and blood-stained clothing were scattered around.
Aboukar tried to flee through a window but was caught after a brief foot chase. Officers later found Kirsty, 29, dead in the back garden, alongside a bloodied carpet section wrapped in a black bin bag.
CCTV and forensic evidence tell chilling story
Homicide detectives reviewed CCTV showing Aboukar dragging Kirsty’s body into the garden. A post-mortem revealed fatal blunt force trauma to her head and face. Kirsty’s defensive injuries showed she tried to protect herself.
“Kirsty Ashley weighed just 8 stone 2 lbs, she was no match for Aboukar and could not defend herself,” said Detective Inspector Frank Copley.
The neuropathologist said Kirsty was hit repeatedly with a heavy object—likely the barbell or hammer—and died within 30 minutes of the attack.
Relationship cracks and courtroom drama
The couple had known each other since 2020 and had an on-and-off relationship. In police interviews, Aboukar said they argued after watching TV and claimed Kirsty became violent first. He admitted hitting her twice and said she fell and hit her head on the barbell.
His defence argued loss of control and pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The jury rejected the murder charge but found him guilty of manslaughter.
Justice for Kirsty
“The attack launched on Kirsty by Aboukar was incredibly brutal. There can be no justification for this level of violence,” added DI Copley. “He will now pay for his actions with his freedom. My thoughts are with Kirsty’s family today.”
