Suspect ‘used kitchen knife to try to decapitate’ student

A STUDENT who was murdered while walking home from work was killed by a man who tried to decapitate her, the Old Bailey has heard.

Ania Jedrkowiak, 21, was found injured in an alleyway in South Ealing, west London, shortly after midnight last Tuesday.

The Polish student, who was studying at the University of West London, died at the scene.

It is alleged she was attacked by Dennis Akpomedaye, from Newport in south Wales, with whom she had a short-lived relationship when they met online after her move to Britain in 2020.

The relationship was said to have ended after she began to study and got a part-time job in a restaurant.

The prosecution said Mr Akpomedaye, 29, ambushed her and inflicted multiple stab wounds with a large kitchen knife, which he then used in an apparent attempt to decapitate her.

He allegedly suffered an injury to his arm in the incident and in hospital said he was a sword performer whose trick had gone wrong, the court heard.

He was detained by police as he waited at Victoria station for a coach back to Newport and was charged with murder last Wednesday.

Yesterday, he appeared at the Old Bailey by video link from HMP Wandsworth, speaking to confirm his identity before resting his head in his arms.

Judge Mark Dennis set a plea and case management hearing for Aug 8 and a provisional trial from May 15 next year. Mr Akpomedaye was further remanded into custody.

Det Ch Insp Brian Howie, the senior investigating officer, said: “Ania’s life was taken in the most tragic of circumstances and her family are understandably completely devastated by what has happened.”

He added that although detectives had already made “significant progress”, he believes “there may be people with information who we have not yet spoken to”.