Man accused of assaulting top chef Mussie Imnetu near Notting Hill Carnival denies murder

A man has pleaded not guilty to murdering a top chef who worked under Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing after allegedly attacking him near Notting Hill Carnival.

Omar Wilson, 31, allegedly punched 41-year-old chef Mussi Imnetu in the head on August 26, the second day of the carnival.

Mr Imnetu was found unconscious with a head injury at around 11.22pm and was treated at the scene – outside the Dr Power restaurant in Queensway, west London – and was taken to hospital, where he died on August 30.

Wilson was originally charged with causing grievous bodily harm, but after Imnet’s death the charge was upgraded to murder.

The defendant, of Napier Road, Leytonstone, east London, appeared at the Old Bailey via HMP Belmarsh video link on Monday to deny murdering the chef.

At a previous hearing, prosecutor Julian Winship presented the facts of the case, maintaining that Wilson attacked Mr Imnetu after the two had an interaction “on the grounds” of the carnival.

The hearing date is set for February 3 next year and is estimated to last two to three weeks.

The Metropolitan Police said Imnetu was on business in the UK from Dubai, where he lived and worked as a chef.

He left The Arts Club, a private members-only club in Mayfair, shortly after 1pm on August 26.

Imnetu is said to have later bought a white baseball cap before arriving alone at the Dr Power restaurant at around 10.30pm.

The Arts Club Dubai website says Imnetu has worked under celebrity chefs Ramsay and Wareing, as well as Alain Ducasse.