A London man who stabbed a student in a frenzied attack and then wrote a rap bragging about it has been jailed for eight years.
William Osaseri, 19, chased after and stabbed the 20-year-old victim during an incident in Radford, Nottinghamshire shortly before 6pm on June 27, 2024.
The victim was lucky to survive after his brachial artery was severed when Osaseri stabbed him in the arm. The stabbing left him needing emergency surgery and in a coma for six weeks.
Detectives trawled CCTV of the incident, which happened on a footpath off Midland Way, and identified Osaseri, who had been studying in Sheffield but is from London, as the culprit.
They arrested Osaseri at his home address in London’s Grove Park, and found bags of cannabis, scales and the blue-handled knife used to stab the victim.
Nottingham Crown Court heard the motivation for the attack is unclear, but that Osaseri had links to street gangs in London and was involved in drug dealing around university campuses.
After the stabbing, Osaseri picked up a rucksack that had been dropped by the victim and fled the scene.
He was sentenced on Thursday having confessed to wounding with intent, theft from a person, possession of a knife in a public place and possession of a Class B drug.
Sending him to a young offender’s institution for eight years, Recorder Simon King said it was “pure luck” that he was not being sentenced for murder.
Police labelled the attack “brutal” and said Osaseri had shown no remorse towards his victim - even making up a rap verse to brag about it to his associates.
They added the victim may well have died if officers who were on the scene in minutes had not provided critical first aid.
“Due to a lack of oxygen caused by the stab wound, the victim now has a life-changing brain injury that continues to hold significant implications for both himself and his family – and it’s unlikely he’ll be able to return to university to resume his studies,” said Detective Sergeant Nigel Malik of Nottinghamshire Police.
“The seriousness of the victim’s condition saw the incident treated as attempted murder from the outset, and a comprehensive investigation by detectives built up a clear evidential picture that identified Osaseri as the suspect and resulted in his arrest and charge.
“He has shown no remorse or concern for the victim. Indeed, he went on to write his own rap verse about the incident and bragged about it to associates.”
DS Malik added officers hoped the prison sentence would send a “very clear message” to others who think they can carry and use knives.
