Throughout the month of February, we’re telling the story of the 21 teenagers who were murdered in 2023. Our campaign, The 21, seeks to remember every victim as a young person with a family and their whole life ahead of them. We want to change the culture of kids carrying knives and becoming involved in violence.

This is the face of Mehak Sharma, a 19-year-old girl who was stabbed to death in Croydon. 

Name: Mehak Sharma

Age: 19

From: Croydon

Here is a timeline of events and everything we know so far about her death:

Sunday, October 29:

Shortly after 4.15pm, Sahil Sharma dialled 999 and told a police operator that he killed his wife at their home in Ash Tree Way.

Officers attended and found Mehak Sharma with “catastrophic” knife injuries to her neck. 

The 19-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene 20 minutes later. 

She is believed to be a recent immigrant from India. 

Authorities arrested Sharma at the scene on suspicion of murder and he was taken to hospital for a minor head injury.

Tuesday, October 31:

Sahil Sharma, 23, of Ash Tree Way in Croydon, appeared in custody at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court charged with murder.

A special post-mortem examination conducted found the cause of Mehak's death to have been a stab wound to the neck.

Thursday, February 8: 

Sharma appeared in custody at Kingston Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife.

Detective Inspector Laura Semple, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Sahil Sharma’s actions have devastated a family.

"In killing his wife he has robbed her family of a loving daughter for reasons known only to himself.

“While I am pleased that Mehak Sharma’s loved ones will now be spared the experience of going through a trial, nothing can bring her back to them. 

“Mehak was killed in her own home, the place where she should have been safest, by the person who should have loved and protected her.

"My thoughts today are with her family and loved ones.”

Sharma is due to be sentenced at the same court on Friday, April 26.