A man who fatally stabbed an aircraft engineer outside a Bushey restaurant has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 20 years before he can be considered for parole.
Dequarn Williams, 26, of Dollis Hill, London, was convicted of the murder of 32-year-old Jeyanthan Ramachanthran following an attack outside Vu Lounge, just off Bushey High Street. The attack took place just after 11.30pm on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
St Albans Crown Court heard that Mr Ramachanthran had been enjoying a meal with his family when a minor altercation broke out between the two men. The confrontation ended promptly before Williams grabbed a steak knife from a nearby table and plunged it 13cm into Mr Ramachanthran’s chest.
CCTV footage shown to the court showed Williams pushing through the crowd with the knife before lunging at the victim. Security staff at the venue quickly intervened and pulled Williams away. Officers and paramedics arrived at the scene and attended to the victim’s injuries before taking him to hospital. Mr Ramachanthran died from his injuries that night in hospital.
Judge Jonathon Mann KC described the attack at the sentencing as an act of anger sparked by a “perceived slight” for which there was no genuine justification. He told the defendant: “Nothing had really happened and there was no reason for you to do what you did”.
In a victim impact statement, Jeyanthan’s wife Thinuba said: “There are no words that I can say that will truly capture the depth of what has been so cruelly stolen from me, and I don’t know how I am supposed to put into words the agonising impact of losing the man who was my entire world.”
“Jeyanthan was a bright, bubbly, and wonderful person. He possessed the purest heart, always selflessly putting everyone else before himself. He was funny, with a beautiful smile and a unique laugh – a laugh that made our house feel like a home. Jeyanthan was loved so deeply by so many people. He was a deeply kind, strong, and brave man who went completely out of his way to help anyone in need. He was always the very first person family, friends and colleagues turned to.”
She added: “Jeyanthan’s absence has left a devastating, agonising void throughout our entire family. He was not just my husband; he was a deeply loved son-in-law, brother-in-law, and friend. He brought joy, laughter, and light into our lives, loving my family just as deeply as his own. He always helped everyone, and he left this world selflessly doing exactly that.
“No verdict or sentence passed by this court can ever bring Jeyanthan back to me or undo the damage that has been done. But I stand here today because Jey’s life mattered. He was a deeply loved husband, a high-achieving, contributing member of society, and a man who deserved his bright future ahead of him. His absence has left a massive, permanent void in my heart and in this world that can never, ever be filled.”
Detective Inspector (DI) Lee Martin, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Major Crime Unit, said: “Dequarn Williams made a conscious decision that night which resulted in the loss of a man’s life and devastated those closest to him. Violent behaviour of this nature has no place in our community and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions.
“While no prison term can ever undo the harm that has been caused or bring Jeyanthan back to his family, Williams will now spend a significant period behind bars as a consequence of his offending.”
A key issue during sentencing was whether Williams had brought the knife to the scene. The judge ruled that because the weapon had been picked up inside the restaurant moments before the attack, it formed part of the same scene. However, the minimum term was increased beyond the standard setting. The public nature of the attack, the presence of the victim’s family, Williams’ prior criminal record and attempts by the defendant’s family to conceal the knife following the attack.
Williams pleaded not guilty prior to trial but changed his plea to guilty of manslaughter. The jury unanimously found Williams guilty of murder.
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