Father Jailed for Life After Stabbing Kids’ Mum to Death
A horrific murder has shocked Bexley after Tony Curant, 33, was locked up for life for stabbing the mother of his children in a brutal attack while their terrified kids hid nearby.
Brutal Attack in Family Home
Curant was sentenced on August 2 for the savage killing of Leila Young at their Penhill Road home on January 16. The court heard that Leila, who had been planning to escape the abusive relationship, suffered a frenzied onslaught of 57 stab wounds – 18 of them to her face, head, and neck.
In the weeks before the murder, Leila called Curant “the biggest bully she had ever met” and voiced her desperation to leave him behind. Despite this, Curant launched the vicious attack while their children cowered in the next room.
Children Plead: “Is Mum Still Alive?”
The couple shared three children and had been in a toxic on-off relationship since 2006. By December 2023, Leila had accused Curant of rape and violence in front of their kids, even finding a new flat to flee the nightmare.
On the day she died, Leila left a chilling voice message to her mother pleading for help and sent a recording of her distress as Curant accused her of cheating. Paramedics found her in a pool of blood after Curant’s 999 call, where she whispered, “Please save me. I can’t feel my body. Tony done it.”
The children, hidden in the next room, asked officers desperately: “Is mum still alive?” They revealed Curant had taken their phones to stop them calling for help. Leila died a week later in hospital on January 23.
Family in Mourning, Judge Condemns Killer
Leila’s mother, Caroline Young, was heartbroken: “My beautiful daughter was brutally taken from us by the man she trusted. Our family has been shattered by this senseless act of violence. Joy and laughter have turned to tears and grief.”
Curant fled after the attack, confessing the murder to a friend, Richard Ray, who then aided his escape. Curant hid in a brothel in dartford/" title="Dartford" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Dartford before police arrested him on January 20. He later pleaded guilty to murder, blaming drugs and alcohol for his actions.
Judge David Aaronberg KC slammed Curant’s “utterly horrific” crime, highlighting his history of violence and drug dealing. “You used a knife ferociously, repeatedly stabbing her, knowing your children were close by. They were traumatised by your conduct,” the judge said before sentencing Curant to life with a minimum of 21 years behind bars.
Ray, 34, has admitted perverting the course of justice and faces sentencing next week.
