An unborn baby was just 2 millimetres from death when her father carried out a frenzied street stabbing attack on his partner, a court was told.
Birmingham businessman Babur Raja who tried to murder his heavily pregnant partner and their unborn child in a “merciless” street stabbing has been jailed for 18 years.
Company director Raja, from Sutton Coldfield, admitted attempted murder, attempted child destruction, possession of a knife in public and the wounding and assault of two passers-by, in Sutton’s town centre on March 4.
The 41-year-old told Birmingham Crown Court that he stabbed his 24 times partner because he had been forced to choose between his Muslim mother’s faith and the “love of his life”.
The court heard that the unborn baby came within 2mm of death and his partner, Natalie Queiroz, was saved by her breast implants and by brave passers-by.
In a statement read out after the sentencing Ms Queiroz said she had no idea the attack was being meticulously planned and described her relationship as ‘exceptionally happy and loving’.
Prosecuting barrister Benjamin Aina QC also told how had Raja plunged his knife just 2mm further into the abdomen of his helpless victim “it would have killed the (unborn) baby”.
The court heard the child was now doing well.
