Man stabbed pregnant girlfriend to death with scissors after saying he did not want more children, court hears
Ioan Campeanu 'appeared relaxed' as he led police into flat where he murdered Andra Hilitanu, court hears
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A man stabbed his pregnant girlfriend to death with scissors after telling his family he did not want any more children, a court heard.
Ioan Campeanu, 44, allegedly attacked Andra Hilitanu, 28, in the bathroom of their northwest London flat.
He is on trial on the Old Bailey for her murder and the destruction of their unborn child.
The prosecution alleges the killing was “a final act of brutality” after “months and years of violence”.
A cousin of Ms Hilitanu said she once witnessed Mr Campeanu threatening to kill his girlfriend and eat her flesh, the jury was told.
Police found Ms Hilitanu’s badly injured body in the flat in Neasden, Brent, following a 999 call from Mr Campeanu early on 1 June.
She had suffered multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead at 2.44am.
Prosecutor Brian O’Neill said officers were “struck” by how Mr Campenau appeared relaxed and “was in no rush” as he led them into the flat.
The court heard Mr Campeanu went for a drive after killing Ms Hilitanu before eventually calling 999 and telling an operator he had attacked his girlfriend with scissors. He said: “She’s dead, I killed her.”
The Romanian couple’s neighbour had complained to their landlord that he could hear them fighting earlier, on the night of 31 May, the court heard.
Ms Hilitanu could be heard screaming and repeatedly saying “da, da, da”, which translates to “yes, yes, yes”, jurors were told.
Shortly after midnight, Mr Campeanu phoned his adult daughter in London to say he had “got rid of her”.
His daughter said she was aware her father and Ms Hilitanu were using drugs, which she said were making him “confused and destroying him”, Mr O’Neill told the jury.
The couple were both “heavy abusers of Class A drugs”, in particular crack cocaine, the prosecutor added.
Mr Campeanu’s daughter said her father “had not wanted any more children”, the court heard.
Mr O’Neill said a cousin of Ms Hilitanu said they had once seen Mr Campeanu kicking her in the groin and telling her: “I’ll kill you Andra, I’ll eat your flesh.’”
The cousin said the couple had a “difficult relationship”, the court heard.
Mr O’Neill told the jury: “No one else other than this defendant could have killed Andra, it being his final act of brutality against her after months and years of violence.
“He attacked her and their unborn child, plunging a pair of scissors into her neck and leaving them both to die as he went for a drive.”
A Romanian interpreter is translating the trial to the defendant, who appeared in the dock in a grey tracksuit.
He denies murder and child destruction.
The trial continues.
Additional reporting by Press Association