A former professional footballer accused of stabbing an Iranian journalist in London has claimed that an accomplice was responsible for the knife attack. Iran International journalist Pouria Zeraati was left bleeding in the street after being stabbed three times in the leg near his home in Wimbledon, South London, on March 29, 2024.
Court Proceedings
Woolwich Crown Court previously heard that the attack was 'ordered by a third party acting on behalf of the Iranian state.' Ex-footballer Nandito Badea, 21, told the court he believed he was only conducting surveillance on a man alleged to be having an affair with another man's wife. The former midfielder, who played for Romanian teams Astra and Blejoi, came to England for construction work after his football career ended.
Badea told the jury: 'I had no reason to believe that man would suffer any harm or anything.' He and George Stana, 25, both Romanian nationals, have pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and wounding.
Prosecution's Allegations
Prosecutors allege they carried out 'a planned attack preceded by reconnaissance, and which was ordered by a third party acting on behalf of the Iranian state.' On Friday, Badea claimed that a man named David Andrei, who is not a defendant in the trial, came from behind and stabbed Mr Zeraati in the thigh. Badea said he was 'scared' of Andrei, who slapped and threatened him and his family when he later said he would report the incident.
The ex-footballer said he followed Andrei's instructions to ask Mr Zeraati for £3, expecting Andrei to join them and 'speak with the gentleman' about the alleged affair. Badea recounted: 'I saw him (Andrei) when he was behind him (Mr Zeraati). I was not expecting him to come from behind. I saw David taking a knife out of his pocket. Then he stepped one step towards him. He stabbed him. I ran away.' He added that he was afraid and not expecting such an event.
He ran, followed by Andrei, to a waiting car with Stana at the wheel. Badea denied laughing, contrary to an eyewitness account, and recalled being pushed by Andrei, saying: 'My legs were failing me, I was scared of what I saw.' He got into the car and told Stana: 'Drive quickly, drive quickly, David stabbed him.'
Background
In 2022, the Iranian regime designated Iran International as a terrorist organisation and decreed that anyone working with the organisation would be deemed a threat to Iranian national security. In November 2022, posters in Tehran featured pictures of journalists, including Zeraati, under the heading 'Wanted: dead or alive.' Police provided armed security for Iran International's offices in Chiswick in 2022, and from February 2023, the TV station moved to Washington DC after being told employees could not be adequately protected in the UK.
Badea and Stana deny wounding and wounding causing grievous bodily harm. The case continues.
