Jabbard Mabounda (31) is set to appear in Croydon Magistrates’ Court today, September 29, in connection with an attack on a gay couple that occurred in Brixton after UK Black Pride on August 19. 

Mabounda will appear in court charged with one count of racially/religiously aggravated ABH and two counts of racially/religiously aggravated assault by beating. 

According to Metropolitan Police, Mabounda is suspected to have attacked a gay couple at a Brixton bus stop on the date in question. The incident resulted in both victims being sent to the hospital for treatment before being discharged. 

The gay couple, Michael Smith and his boyfriend, Nat Asabere, had spent the day at the UK Black Pride festival. 

In the aftermath of the attack, Smith created a JustGiving page to raise money for Stonewall, a charity committed to enacting meaningful change in LGBTQ+ public policy. In a post accompanying the fundraiser, Smith recounted getting punched in the face by Mabounda. 

“All of a sudden, a stranger who was also waiting at the bust stop hit the guy who I was with and then started hitting me in the face,” Smith said. 

“Luckily the bus we were getting turned up and we ran on it. That’s when I noticed blood on my t-shirt and it was coming from my mouth. I was punched so much that I had split my lip.”

He continued, “Obviously, the experience was horrible. I was in shock and so confused what happened. But I’m not going to let this get to me. 

“…I am not looking for sympathy or pity because I see myself as being lucky. There have been LGBTQ+ people who have been hurt a lot worse than me, or even killed,” Smith concluded. 

According to a Metropolitan Police spokesperson, both Smith and Asabere “are being supported by a dedicated LGBT+ community liaison officer” whose role is to support those involved in hate crimes motivated by sexuality or gender.