Duane Owusu denies killing Zahwa Mukhtar, a 27-year-old deaf woman, after pushing her from a moving car in London.

Duane Owusu, 36, denies murder and manslaughter in the death of 27-year-old deaf woman Zahwa Mukhtar, who died after being pushed from a moving Mercedes in Hackney, London, on August 16, 2025. Owusu told the Old Bailey he was traumatized by her death and claimed he only pushed her to de-escalate a violent confrontation in the car, where she allegedly threatened to stab someone and pulled hair. He said he removed her phone to prevent filming, asked the driver to stop, and believed she would get up after falling. CCTV showed him kicking near her legs, which he denied targeting her head. He said he was more concerned about police searching for cannabis than her wellbeing and did not realize she was fatally injured. Mukhtar suffered a fractured skull and brain injury, dying at the scene. The trial continues.