Woman admits killing 5-year-old grandson in stabbing in Coventry
Elena Anghel killed David-Mario Lazar at his home in Earlsdon.
Last updated 20th Jun 2023
The grandmother of a five-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Coventry has pleaded guilty to his manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
Warwick Crown Court was told Romanian national Elena Anghel killed David-Mario Lazar at his home in Poplar Road, Earlsdon, on 25 January last year, while suffering delusions linked to mental illness.
In a victim impact statement read into the court record, David-Mario's mother said: "Mario was five years old when he died and he was killed by my mother.
"I still cannot believe this has happened. It is over a year ago now and nothing changes."
The victim impact statement continued: "In our home Mario is everywhere. There are pictures and memories of him all over.
"He will never be forgotten.
"I never saw her (Anghel) do anything around my son that would alarm me. She loved him and he loved her.
"I would never have trusted her to care for Mario if she had shown any signs of illness."
The judge was told Anghel, who was accompanied in the dock by four health workers and an interpreter, has an extensive history of treatment in Romania for psychotic and depressive disorders, but David-Mario's parents were not aware of any continuing mental health issues.
The prosecution accepted the 51-year-old's not guilty plea to a charge of murder and she has been sentenced by Mrs Justice Cockerill today (20 June) to a hospital order in a secure facility, where she has been currently residing.