In a harrowing account that lays bare the devastating consequences of stalking, a husband has spoken of the chilling moment he heard his wife's final, terrified screams as she was murdered by her obsessed former colleague.
Grieving Andrei Iacob, 42, was mere metres away inside their family home in Barnet, north London, when his beloved wife, Andreea, 29, was ambushed and stabbed to death in a frenzied attack on her own doorstep.
A Life Stolen by Obsession
The perpetrator, 51-year-old Paul Davidson, had become dangerously fixated on Andreea after they worked together. His obsession escalated into a terrifying campaign of stalking, culminating in the brutal daylight murder on April 2023.
Despite a previous police investigation into Davidson's behaviour, which saw him cautioned for harassment, the threat was not eliminated. On that fateful day, he lay in wait, armed with a knife, to carry out his horrific plan.
The Final, Heartbreaking Moments
"I heard the screams," Mr. Iacob told an inquest at North London Coroner's Court. "I rushed outside to find my wife on the ground. It was already too late." His testimony paints a picture of a normal day shattered in an instant by unimaginable violence.
The court heard how Davidson, of no fixed address, subsequently took his own life, leaving a trail of grief and unanswered questions in his wake.
A Call for Change
This tragedy has sparked urgent questions about the handling of stalking cases and the protection offered to victims. Andreea's story is a stark reminder of the very real and often fatal danger posed by obsessive behaviour.
Senior Coroner Tony Murphy concluded the inquest, recognising the profound failure in systems designed to protect the public. Andreea's family now hopes her death will not be in vain and will lead to meaningful change in how stalking threats are assessed and managed.
