Mother stabbed to death by ex-husband in front of children (From Harrow Times)

Zandra Maxwell-Nelson was stabbed to death in front of children by her ex-husband

4:02pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News By Natalie O'Neill

A man has been found guilty of stabbing to death a mother from Brent in front of their two young children.

Zandra Maxwell-Nelson, 24, of Nicoll Road, was on her way back from a barbecue with her two sons last April when she was attacked by her ex-husband Nathaniel Brown, 27.

Brown, who used to live in Finchley, stabbed Ms Maxwell-Nelson 20 times in broad daylight in Durban Road, Tottenham. She was taken by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital, where she died.

Detective Sergeant Ash Hornsby said: "Zandra was nearing the end of a three-year university degree course in creative advertising and video production and worked part-time in order to support her family.

"To those who knew her, she was happy-go-lucky, loving and caring, with a bubbly and infectious personality.

"Brown has never explained his actions that day, instead seeking to rely on the defences of diminished responsibility and loss of control.

"Diminished responsibility was clearly rejected by the jury; loss of control had earlier been ruled out by the judge.”

Brown was found guilty at the Old Bailey on Tuesday. He will be sentenced at the court tomorrow.