Man jailed for 'frenzied' attack on partner

A man who murdered his partner by stabbing her more than 50 times in a jealous rage has been jailed for at least 18 years.

David Xavier, 38, had attacked Andreia Guilherme with a kitchen knife at their home in Croydon, south London, on the evening of December 11 2020.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Xavier was found guilty of murder and jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years.

The Old Bailey was told the couple's relationship had deteriorated since 30-year-old Ms Guilherme had become a mother and, by the time of her death, she had tried to break up with Xavier.

The defendant reacted by becoming "increasingly jealous and angry" at the rejection, prosecutor Paul Raudnitz KC said.

On the night of her death, Ms Guilherme had sent a series of messages to friends and family as a row with Xavier escalated.

The victim texted a cousin to say "he picked up a knife" and told the defendant's sister: "David is crazy pointed a knife at me."

At 11.43pm, she texted another friend in Madeira that he "pointed a knife at me".

She followed it up with an audio clip in which Ms Guilherme was heard crying and saying: "You are abnormal! You are crazy! Coming after me with a knife....

"You are disgust! You are crazy! Disgusting! Crazy! You are disgusting! I hate you! You are crazy!"

Mr Raudnitz told jurors that was the last communication the victim made and soon after Xavier stabbed her to death with a kitchen knife.

The prosecutor said: "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 injuries were cuts to her hand where she had tried to defend herself."

Two minutes and 19 seconds after Ms Guilherme's last communication, the defendant called his sister, who also lived in Croydon, and told her that she was dead.

She and her husband rushed to the defendant's flat and found him holding a knife and covered in blood with the victim lying lifeless on the bedroom floor.

They called emergency services and Ms Guilherme was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Raudnitz told jurors there was no lawful reason that would have justified such a killing.

He said: "Whilst Mr Xavier may have been in drink, he was not in such a state of intoxication that he was unable to form the intention to kill or to cause serious bodily injury."

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb, of Scotland Yard, said: "This was a horrific, frenzied attack against a woman who didn't stand a chance. Xavier was armed with a knife and clearly enraged.

"Andreia's family has lived through the horror of receiving those final messages on the night of her death, and, due to Xavier pleading not guilty, they were forced to relive that night again at the trial.

"It is right that Xavier will spend a large part of his life behind bars and while nothing can bring Andreia back, I sincerely hope that the sentence handed down, brings her loved ones a measure of comfort."

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