Man admits doorstep killing of university lecturer

A mentally-ill man has admitted stabbing to death a renowned academic on the doorstep of his home.

Dr Jeroen Ensink, 41, a lecturer in public heath at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was attacked in Islington, 11 days after he had become a father.

He had been out posting cards to family and friends announcing the birth of his daughter Fleur on December 29 last year when he was repeatedly stabbed by 23-year-old Femi Nandap in a random attack.

Dr Ensink's wife Nadja was at home with the baby and discovered his death when she went outside to find police had cordoned off the street and the cards her husband had been carrying were strewn on the pavement splattered in blood.

The lecturer was pronounced dead at the scene in Hilldrop Crescent shortly after 1.50pm.

Nandap, of Woolwich, south-east London, admitted the manslaughter of Dr Ensink by reason of diminished responsibility at a brief hearing via video link at the Old Bailey on Thursday.

The case was adjourned until October 10 for sentencing.

Nandap, who is being held at Broadmoor high-security mental hospital has a history of mental health problems.

Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC accepted the plea, saying: "There has been extensive psychiatric consideration in this case and the consensus of opinion is clear, cogent and unanimous.

"In that clear and unanimous psychiatric opinion there was an abnormality of mental function at that time that diminished his responsibility."

He said the decision not to pursue the murder charge was taken in communication with the victim's family, who were not present for the hearing.

Julian Hendy, of charity Hundredfamilies, said: "This is another deeply distressing case of an innocent man and young family destroyed by the violent actions of a seriously mentally ill offender.

"These cases are happening now far too often and we await with interest the results of the psychiatric investigations to see if there were opportunities that could have prevented this terrible tragedy."

A memorial fund set up in the wake of Dr Ensink's killing has raised more than £20,000, with donations from friends and former students alike.