Hanaa Bennis, 22, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for the manslaughter of her abusive mother, Aziza Bennis, 58, in their home on Boddington Gardens, Acton, West London, on August 15, 2022. The court heard that Aziza Bennis suffered more than 30 stab wounds during the tragic incident.
Hanaa Bennis, who initially faced a murder charge, claimed she acted in self-defence, asserting that her mother had attacked her first. However, she later admitted manslaughter because of diminished responsibility.
During the trial, Judge Nigel Lickley KC highlighted several factors that contributed to the fatal altercation, including violence, illness, alcohol, and issues related to the defendant’s daughter.
The police were alerted to the incident by concerned neighbours who reported hearing distressing screams, including pleas like “Please stop hurting me” and “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” along with the sound of objects being thrown.
The court heard that the dispute between the mother and daughter on the day of the incident was exacerbated by heated text messages they exchanged, with Hanaa Bennis telling her mother, “you made me hate my life,” and receiving the response, “get a life.
Both individuals had consumed alcohol on the day of the attack, and Hanaa Bennis had used drugs in the days leading up to the incident. The prosecution argued that Hanaa Bennis had a history of excessive drinking, erratic behaviour, and a refusal to cooperate with professionals.
During sentencing, Judge Lickley KC acknowledged the severity of the attack, stating that it demonstrated the defendant’s intent to kill. However, he also noted her feelings of “shame and guilt.”
Hanaa Bennis claimed that her mother had subjected her to a lifetime of abuse. Psychiatric reports, interviews with Bennis’ sister, and extensive social services records all supported her claims, describing Aziza Bennis as “frequently violent, unpredictable, and unstable.”
The court also considered the impact of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from “childhood trauma” in the sentencing. Hanaa Bennis was ultimately sentenced to nine years in prison, with an additional five years to be served on an extended license.
The defendant had six previous convictions, including assault, and was subject to a community order for assaulting an emergency worker when the tragic incident took place.
