Jilted knifeman, 26, who stabbed and strangled his friend, 19, to death and tried to set fire to her body after she rejected his advances and said she thought of him ‘more as a brother’ is jailed for minimum of 21 years
- Halefom Weldeyohannes repeatedly knifed Yordanos Brhane on July 31 last year
- Court heard she died as result of strangulation and stab wounds to face and neck
- She was found lying in a pool of blood when paramedics could enter property
- Weldeyohannes pleaded guilty to murder and was jailed for life yesterday
A jilted knifeman who stabbed and strangled his friend to death before trying to set fire to her body after she rejected his advances has been jailed for a minimum of 21 years.
Halefom Weldeyohannes, 26, repeatedly knifed 19-year-old Yordanos Brhane at her home in Unett Street, Birmingham, on July 31 last year.
She was found lying in a pool of blood after paramedics were forced to wait 30 minutes for police to arrive before being allowed to enter the property.
A court heard she died as a result of strangulation as well as horrific stab wounds to her face and neck.
Halefom Weldeyohannes, 26, repeatedly knifed 19-year-old Yordanos Brhane (pictured) at her home in Unett Street, Birmingham, on July 31 last year
Weldeyohannes (pictured), of Sheffield city centre, pleaded guilty to murder on Monday and was jailed for life at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday
Weldeyohanne launched the brutal attack after Yordanos said she had no romantic interest in him and saw him ‘more as a brother’.
The pair had known each other for many years having both grown up in the same village in Eritrea. Ms Brhane had moved to the UK in search of a better life.
Weldeyohanne travelled to Miss Brhane’s house and convinced her to let him stay the night in a separate room.
At 2.31am the next morning Miss Brhane texted a housemate saying: ‘I am worried. Where are you?’ according to the BBC.
Between 5.30am and 6am her housemate heard Miss Brhane screaming and found Weldeyohannes strangling her. She called the police and Weldeyohannes fled.
He had stabbed Miss Brhane 15 times with a kitchen knife, strangled her for up to 30 seconds and tried to set fire to her body before fleeing the scene.
Miss Brhane was found lying in a pool of blood after paramedics were forced to wait 30 minutes for police to arrive before being allowed to enter the property (pictured)
Police launched a nationwide manhunt and tracked down Weldeyohanne the following day at an address in Stoke-on-Trent where he was visiting a friend.
He had been home to Sheffield to change his clothes and it is believed he was trying to raise money to flee the country.
Weldeyohannes, of Sheffield city centre, pleaded guilty to murder on Monday and was jailed for life at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday.
He will serve a minimum term of 21 years before he is eligible to apply for parole.
Miss Brhane fled Eritrea when she was 15 and sought asylum in Europe, first in Italy where she was treated for various illnesses including scabies.
A police van keeps watch outside the home, which was cordoned off after Miss Brhane’s body was found
She came to Birmingham in 2020, the same year Weldeyohannes arrived in the UK from Eritrea.
He was allowed to stay in the country by the Home Office because he had fled his country to avoid conscription.
Detective Inspector Jim Mahon, from West Midlands Police, said afterwards: ‘We still don’t know why Weldeyohannes attacked Yordanos.
‘We understand from our investigations that he wanted a romantic relationship with her, but she viewed their relationship as platonic.
‘This is incredibly tragic for Yordanos’ family. She had left her country and come to the UK where she found work and felt safe.
Forensic teams were seen working on the house after Miss Brhane’s body was found to have multiple fatal injuries
‘However, her life was cut short by a jealous, controlling and violent man who would not accept that she did not want to be in a relationship with him.
‘Only Weldeyohannes knows exactly what happened that morning and is now facing many years behind bars.
‘Yordanos’s family are still grieving her loss and our thoughts remain with them.’
Ms Brhane’s family said in a statement: ‘Yordanos was very kind, she respected people. Yordanos loved helping people, and those in difficult situations.
‘Nothing was too much trouble for her.
‘Yordanos wanted to be a doctor, or a teacher in the future, or somewhere where she could work with children.
‘She left Eritrea for a better life in the UK, but instead she was murdered in her own home.
‘I feel that him (Weldeyohannes) pleading guilty, admitting what he did saves us from hearing in detail the awful things that he did to my sister, and how she sufferred but it hasn’t, and won’t ever take the pain away.
‘We all live with that for the rest of our lives.’
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