A former professional footballer accused of stabbing an Iranian journalist in London has told a court he was not responsible for the attack, instead blaming an accomplice. Nandito Badea, 21, a former midfielder for Romanian teams Astra and Blejoi, said he believed he was only conducting surveillance on a man allegedly having an affair.
The attack occurred on March 29, 2024, outside the home of Iran International journalist Pouria Zeraati in Wimbledon, leaving him bleeding in the street. Badea and fellow Romanian national George Stana, 25, have pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and wounding. Prosecutors allege the attack was planned and ordered by a third party acting on behalf of the Iranian state.
In his testimony at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, Badea claimed a man named David Andrei, who is not a defendant, stabbed Mr Zeraati in the thigh. Badea said he was scared of Andrei, who slapped and threatened him and his family when Badea considered reporting the incident. Badea stated he followed Andrei's instructions to ask Mr Zeraati for £3, expecting Andrei to discuss the alleged affair.
Badea described the stabbing: 'I saw David taking a knife out of his pocket. Then he stepped one step towards him. He stabbed him. I ran away.' He said he then fled with Andrei to a waiting Mazda driven by Stana, telling him to drive quickly because 'David stabbed him'. Badea later changed his clothes and disposed of them at Andrei's request, citing fear.
The defendants headed to Heathrow Airport and fled to Geneva, Switzerland. Badea said he confronted Andrei there, asking why he stabbed the man, and was slapped and threatened. He said he wanted to contact British authorities but was warned his family would suffer repercussions. Badea, extradited back to England, denied being paid for the attack and said he did not know Mr Zeraati was a journalist critical of the Iranian regime.
