Croydon man who stabbed companion greater than 50 instances in ‘frenzied’ assault discovered responsible of homicide
A “jealous and angry” man who stabbed his companion greater than 50 instances in a “frenzied” assault has been discovered responsible of homicide.
David Xavier, 38, attacked Andreia Guilherme with a kitchen knife at their residence in Croydon, south London.
The Old Bailey heard on the evening of the assault in December 2020, 30-year-old Ms Guilherme had despatched messages to family and friends after a row had damaged out between the pair when she tried to finish their relationship.
Prosecutor Paul Raudnitz KC stated Xavier has develop into “increasingly jealous and angry”.
She despatched recordings of “heated” exchanges on Facebook Messenger, during which the defendant accused her in Portuguese of being a “woman of several men”.
The sufferer texted a cousin to say “he picked up a knife” and informed the defendant’s sister: “David is crazy pointed a knife at me.”
Shortly earlier than midnight she despatched one other audio recording to a good friend during which she may be heard saying Xavier was “coming after me with a knife”.
The courtroom heard it was the final communication the sufferer made, and shortly after Xavier stabbed her to loss of life.
The trial was held on the Old Bailey
‘Frenzied assault’
Mr Raudnitz informed the courtroom: “The attack was frenzied. Andreia Guilherme sustained over 50 stab wounds to the front and back of her body, some inflicted with sufficient force so as to damage her internal organs and leave knife marks on the bone and cartilage of her ribs.
“Amongst her accidents have been cuts to her hand the place she had tried to defend herself.”
Two minutes and 19 seconds after Ms Guilherme’s final communication, Xavier referred to as his sister, who additionally lived in Croydon, and informed her that she was lifeless.
She and her husband rushed to the defendant’s flat and located him coated in blood holding a knife with the sufferer mendacity lifeless on the bed room flooring.
Following the responsible verdict on Tuesday, Xavier was remanded into custody to be sentenced on Friday.