A woman who claimed to be a child refugee has been jailed for stabbing a social worker appointed to oversee her care while she was considered a youth.
Fiyori Kesete, now established to be 25, was originally charged with attempted murder on 3 November 2022 after attacking the social worker multiple times with a knife.
She denied this but admitted causing grievous bodily harm.on appearing before Dungannon Crown Court earlier this year.
Kesete claimed to be a refugee who travelled to Northern Ireland by herself in 2021 from Eritrea in East Africa.
Without any parental or responsible adult input, she was assigned support by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust 14+ Team, residing in specialist accommodation in Dungannon.
Prior to the incident she was reported missing seven times including the days running-up to her arrest.
On that occasion, she was located in Belfast by police who alerted her social worker and took her to her accommodation, which had been cleaned and prepared for her return after being missing for several days.
She entered the property with her social worker who went into the kitchen and began unpacking groceries telling her, “I’ve bought you all your favourite things.”
Without warning the victim was stabbed in the arm and head multiple times.
Police were still outside and contained Kesete while an ambulance arrived and rushed the social worker to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery.
The defendant was arrested and during Interview admitted attacking the social worker with the knife but gave no indication why.
At that stage the court was told her identity remained unconfirmed and there are five different dates of birth and six variations of her age registered with the Home Office.
She was remanded into youth custody while the case was fast-tracked because she was considered a child..
However following assessment Kesete’s correct date of birth was established and emergency application was made at court and she was transferred from youth custody to Hydebank Women’s Prison where she has remained ever since.
Judge Richard Green rejected the suggestion Kesete had been trafficked as there was no evidence although he noted, “She did arrive illegally and it may well be she was smuggled into the jurisdiction … Her behaviour in custody has been persistently aggressive and violent … By April this year there were 20 incidents of assaulting prison staff. She has been assessed as having no learning difficulties and is cognitively stable. She shows antisocial characteristics manifesting as irritability and aggression. She is able to decide what she does and there is no impairment.”
He described the attack as, “A vicious and terrifying ordeal … with far-reaching and lasting significant effects … The defendant has limited remorse or victim awareness. She blamed the victim and police for making her angry.”
Addressing Kesete directly, “The impact of your vicious and cowardly attack and another human being has been devastating with life-changing, permanent consequences. You present a risk of serious harm to the public. The offending was gratuitous in the severity of its execution and your behaviours continue within the custodial environment without abatement. You, by the legal definition, are a dangerousoffender.”
A sentence of six years imprisonment was handed down however having deemed Kesete to be dangerous Judge Green extended the period of licence on release by two years.
He also recommended her be deported when the sentence is complete.
