A man who tried to kill a bus passenger by strangling him with his scarf could be free within four years after being jailed for the attack.
South African Eric Mjola, 33, wrapped his scarf around the throat of Tesco security guard Reynolds Quadjovie, 39, who choked before he passed out.
Former hotel worker Mjola, of West Brompton, was convicted at Isleworth crown court of attempting to murder Mr Quadjovie as they travelled on a single-decker C1 bus through Earl’s Court on December 1, 2012.
He was jailed for eight years, but could be freed in four when time he has spent in custody is taken into account.
“This was for Mr Quadjovie an extremely frightening experience that so far has not left him. He believed you were trying to kill him,” Judge Richard McGregor-Johnson told Mjola.
Mjola was on his way to a gym in Hammersmith when Mr Quadjovie, who was starting his first day at Tesco, sat in front of him.
Mr Quadjovie asked another passenger if they were near Tesco before Mjola said to him: “Are you crazy?” Mr Quadjovie replied: “What do you mean, I’m crazy?” and turned round.
The jury were shown CCTV footage of Mjola then placing his scarf around Mr Quadjovie’s neck and the pair struggling at the rear of the bus. “He was killing me, there’s no doubt about that,” Mr Quadjovie told the court. “He meant it and he meant what he was doing.
“He was in complete control of the bus, people were lying down afraid of their lives. You can see how I was struggling, how he was killing me. I was completely in his hands.”
In his statement to police, Mr Quadjovie said Mjola told him: “I want to kill you. He said this several times.”
At one point Mr Quadjovie slumped against the window, but seconds later is seen on CCTV running down the aisle towards the driver. “I was lucky enough and God was on my side,” he told the court. “I made the scarf a bit longer and was able to get it over my head.” He said a finger on his right hand had been permanently damaged as a result of trying to loosen the scarf.
“I’m handicapped in that finger,” he said. I’m suffering emotionally and physically. I’m traumatised. “I have suffered a loss of income from having to spend months at home, I still have debts and was not able to pay my rent.”
Mjola was told he would be liable for deportation after his sentence.
