I would step in again, says man who tripped carnival knife thug
A man who tackled a knife attacker at the Notting Hill Carnival said today that the victim's family had been let down by the British justice system.
Valentine Simatchenko, 55, intervened as Junior Henry fled after stabbing 20-year-old Rio Andre in the stomach and hand, leaving him disabled as the blade cut through tendons.
Last week, Henry, 17, was sentenced at Isleworth crown court to four and a half years in a young offender institute. He had admitted GHB with intent.
Mr Simatchenko, a former Russian policeman who grew up in Ukraine, was photographed trying to trip Henry as he escaped down Ladbroke Grove.
He played down his role in trying to foil Henry. He said: "For me what I did was no big thing. I would do it again."
Mr Simatchenko, a father of two who lives nearby with wife Marina, said: "It is a big problem for the family. For me the length of the sentence doesn't make a difference, but two years, four years, 10 years, but for the boy's family it is bad."
After sentencing it emerged that Henry had a history of violence and was convicted over his involvement in a gang killing at the age of 12, but was spared jail because of his age.
Henry was acquitted of the murder of 22-year-old university student Yasin Abdirahman in 2009, but convicted of conspiracy to cause GBH and violent disorder following an Old Bailey trial.
Mr Abdirahman was attacked by hooded youths armed with knives, baseball bats and broken bottles in Southall.
Judge Peter Beaumont sentenced Henry for both crimes.
Mr Simatchenko said he was "surprised" that Henry was not jailed over the killing of Mr Abdirahman.
He said: "In Russia I think this man with the knife would be targeted. The mafia would get him or someone would pay police to get him. There is no proper justice system like in Britain. I hope this boy comes out of prison a better person."
Mr Andre is still recovering from the stabbing. His mother, Tina, from Hornchurch, said: "If you think you're old enough to go out with a knife or a gun, you've got to do the time - the law isn't providing that."
