A video surveillance camera recorded how the killer walks with a pregnant girl into the forest UK news

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This is the terrifying moment a married man led his pregnant girlfriend into the woods to kill her.

CCTV footage shows Philmon Andmichen, 31, parking his white Toyota Yaris on the side of the road in Ladywood, Birminghambefore he and Livam Bereket get out of the car and walk into a nearby forest.

That was the last time Ms Bereket, who was 27 weeks pregnant, was seen alive.

After about 15 minutes, the video shows Andmichen getting back into the car himself and driving away.

In a statement read to the court, Ms Bereket’s family said the loss of their daughter and sister had “destroyed our lives beyond words”.

They said: “She was not just a daughter and a sister, she was a beautiful soul full of life, laughter and love. She brought joy to everyone around her, was kind and compassionate.

Learn more about femicide

On average, one woman a week is killed by a partner/ex-partner.
Of the 249 female domestic homicide victims between March 2020 and March 2022, a male suspect was involved in a staggering 241 cases.
Women’s Aid has found that women are three times more likely to be killed by their partner than by not wearing a seat belt.
A survey by Murdered Women found that only 4% of bereaved family members said the murder of their loved one could not have been prevented at all.
Femicide Census found that 53% of femicides in 2020 had a history of violence against women

“We have changed forever and we are haunted by the unbearable question of why this happened. Every day we sat to find answers to why he did this terrible thing.

Ms. Bereket’s friends were already concerned about Mr. Andmichen’s aggressive and abusive behavior.

A neighbor told police he saw the killer punch Ms. Bereket in the face several months ago.

Two hours after he drove off, he called police and admitted to injuring the 26-year-old, claiming it was an accident.

An undated handout photo issued by West Midlands Police of Philmon Andmichen, 31, jailed for life for — Filmon Andmichaen was sentenced to 27 years in prison (Photo: West Midlands Police/PA Wire)

Police officers found Ms Bereket with fatal stab wounds to the neck and although she was still showing some signs of life, she died at the scene. Her baby was stillborn after an emergency C-section.

After a trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Andmichen was found guilty of murder and earlier this week was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison.

Andmichen, of Haddon Road, Great Barry, was married to his wife, who had moved from Uganda to live with him, and had children when he began his relationship with Ms Bereket.

Domestic violence during pregnancy

According to the NHS, pregnancy can cause family violence and existing violence can get worse during this time.

In 2018, Safe Lives found that 30% of domestic violence begins during pregnancy
About 20% of women who use Refuge services are pregnant or have recently given birth
In 2001, it was recommended that pregnant women be routinely asked about domestic violence at the time of admission.

FILE PHOTO - Police at the scene in Frith Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, August 2, 2023. Publication date ??? February 20, 2024 See SWNS SWCCdeath story. A married man did "terrible decision" solve "problem" to have a pregnant girl by taking her to a quiet place and slitting the woman's throat. Filmon Andmichaen left a 26-year-old woman and her unborn child to die and later claimed her death was "error" This was reported at Birmingham Crown Court. Andmichen, 30, of Haddon Road, Great Barr, denies murdering Livam Bereket and destroying the child. "The facts are as simple as they are terrible. He made a terrible decision. He decided that the life growing inside his girlfriend, the new innocent life they had created together, was a complication he didn't want to put up with, and he decided that the simple solution to his problem was the ultimate: murder," said Sandip Patel KC, prosecuting, said. — Forensic officers at the scene of a murder in Birmingham last year (Photo: Anita Maric/SWNS)

When she became pregnant, he demanded that she have an abortion, but she refused.

On August 1, 2023, when she was six months pregnant and looking forward to becoming a mother, Andmichen “took matters into his own hands”, the court was told.

After stabbing her, he returned home and admitted to his brother that he had assaulted the woman before eventually calling the police.

Despite telling police he had no intention of killing Ms Bereket, he went to great lengths to prevent her from calling for help, jurors heard. This included taking her phone, which was later found in the trunk of his car.

What to do if you have experienced domestic violence

If you are experiencing domestic violence, you are not alone. And whether you’re dealing with it now or have already made the decision to leave, you have options.

If you’re thinking about leaving, domestic violence charity Refuge suggests starting a record of incidents of abuse, which could include keeping photos or messages or writing down the time, date and details of the incidents.
The next step is to make copies of important documents such as court orders, marriage certificates, National Insurance numbers and your driving licence.
In the meantime, identify safer areas in your home so you know where to go if your abuser takes a turn for the worse. Ideally, this should be a room with a telephone and a door or window to the outside.
If you feel ready to go, start by planning a safe and secure route. If you feel safe, pack an emergency bag so you can leave in a hurry if needed.
You can access a local shelter, with or without children, for as long as you need. The address is confidential. The National Domestic Violence Helpline (0808 2000 247) is open 24 hours a day and provides all the information about shelters in your area.
In an emergency, call 999 and call the police. If you can’t talk, try a silent solution: after dialing 999, listen to the operator’s questions and respond by coughing or touching the device if possible. If prompted, press 55 to tell the operator that this is an emergency and you will be contacted by the police.

Read more here.

In the days after the murder, witnesses told police they had earlier seen Andmichen attack Ms Bereket in the street.

The judge, Mr Justice Chowdhury, said he had no doubt Andmihen intended to take the lives of Ms Bereket and her unborn daughter.

After the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Jim Colclough, from West Midlands Police’s homicide squad, said: “It’s just a shame that a young woman who was looking forward to becoming a mum has been killed in such a callous way.

West Midlands Police CCTV Videograb shows the moment Filmon Andmichen saw off his pregnant lover to her death — CCTV captured the pair getting out of the car before Andmichen returned alone (Image: West Midlands Police)

“This was a very sad investigation for my team, but they were determined to get justice for Livam and her family.

“Andmichen showed no remorse for his actions and caused the Leeva family even more pain by taking them to court.

Andmichen’s actions resulted in the death of Livam and her unborn baby girl. I hope today’s outcome brings the Leevam family some peace knowing that the man who killed their daughter and her baby will spend many years in prison.

“Violence against women and girls is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We know there’s still a lot of work ahead, and it remains a priority for us.

“We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that everyone feels safe in the West Midlands.”

Contact our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more such stories, check our news page.

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Learn more about femicide

Domestic violence during pregnancy

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