Leicester Square stabbing: Trial set for man accused of attacking 11-year-old girl

A man accused of attempting to murder an 11-year-old girl by repeatedly stabbing her in Leicester Square is set to stand trial in May next year, the Old Bailey has heard.

Ioan-Alexandru Pintaru, 32, used a steak knife in a “random” attack on the girl when she was touring London with her mother on holiday, it is said.

The girl was grabbed in a headlock and stabbed eight times, to her face, shoulder, wrist, and neck, it is alleged.

She was on holiday in the UK for a “dream” trip to see Taylor Swift in concert, and she and her mother had just left the Lego store when the alleged attack happened.

Pintaru, a Romanian national of no fixed address, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.

He joined the Old Bailey through a videolink from HMP Belmarsh for a hearing on Tuesday morning.

At an earlier hearing, the court was told Pintaru is accused of having “approached the 11-year-old girl, placed her into a headlock, he’s then stabbed her eight times to the body”.

The girl was taken to hospital after the attack, at just after 11.30am on August 12, which happened near the TWG Tea shop, the Lego store and in front of the M&Ms store.

She has since been discharged and returned to Australia with her mother.

Pintaru was remanded in custody by Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London, with a trial set for May 6.

The girl is set to give evidence a trial partly by recorded video, and partly live on a videolink from Australia.

He is due to appear in court again on January 17 to enter pleas to the charges.

He did not enter any pleas today.

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