Convicted killer warned he would murder again before savage Black Country knife attack, court told

Romanian Gheorghe Mihai repeatedly stabbed his sister-in-law after she interrupted a conversation he was having with her husband, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The 38-year-old defendant had been jailed for seven years for murdering a man in his home country in 2006, revealed Mr Matthew Brook, prosecuting, who said this ‘gave context’ to Mihai’s comment to a friend before the knifing took place on August 7 last year.

Gaman Bobi, a fellow Romanian who had known the defendant for seven months, said in a statement read to the court that the pair had chatted in Lye High Street, near Stourbridge, that afternoon.

He explained: “He was drinking two bottles of beer and was drunk. I could see it in his eyes.

"He told me he was going to kill someone and go to jail for ten years.

“I thought he was joking because he had drunk too much.”

'Let me cut her'

Mihai then walked across the road to a bus shelter where Roxana Mihai was waiting with her husband, the defendant’s half brother Nicursor Gheorghe, who said in his statement to police: “He asked me for £5 three times and I explained we only had £10.

“My wife then told him we had no money because we had sent it all to our family in Romania.

“He said to her ‘why are you talking in our conversation,’ took out a knife from the waist band of his trousers and said: ‘Let me cut her because she is a whore.’”

Nicursor Gheorghe, who was looking after the couple’s child, continued: “I held him to let my wife run and hide. When I couldn’t see her I released him not thinking that he would harm her.”

But the defendant gave chase still holding the knife and deliberately tripped the fleeing woman when he caught up with her on waste ground behind the High Street, the jury heard.

Screaming

Mr Bobi, who had followed them, said in his statement: “He raised his hand above his head and stabbed her on the face by her right eye.

"She was on the floor screaming.

“He raised his hand up again and stabbed her in the back of her head.”

Further blows rained down on the helpless victim’s body and arm before her husband reached the scene – having left their child in the care of others at the bus stop.

She suffered five wounds but survived.

Nicursor Gheorghe’s statement went on: “I saw my wife on the floor covered in blood. I went after him and managed to punch him in the face between the eyes.”

Police arrested the defendant near the scene and recovered a knife.

Mihai from Park Street, Lye denies attempted murder, wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.

The trial continues.