A homeless man accused of trying to murder an Australian 11-year-old girl in Leicester Square by grabbing her in a headlock and stabbing her eight times has appeared in court.
Romanian Ioan Pintaru, 32, is accused of stabbing the tourist who was in the UK on a dream trip with her mother to see Taylor Swift perform at Wembley.
He appeared at the Old Bailey today charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Pintaru did not enter pleas but Judge Mark Lucraft, KC, the Recorder of London, set a provisional trial date for May 6.
The homeless man is a Romanian citizen and has a four-year-old child who lives in Manchester.
Romanian Ioan Pintaru, 32, (pictured) is accused of stabbing the tourist who was in the UK on a dream trip
A police officer stands near a cordoned area following a doublestabbing at Leicester Square on August 12, 2024
A court artists sketch of Ioan Pintaru appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on August 13
Police officers stand in front of the cordoned off area in Londons Leicester Square yesterday
No Romanian interpreter was booked for the hearing but Pintaru was able to confirm his name and date of birth.
Pintaru will next appear for a further case management hearing on January 17.
Police were called at 11:34am on 12 August to reports of an attack after members of the public tackled Pintaru.
Pintaru allegedly held the girl in a headlock as he stabbed her in the face, shoulder and neck.
The girl suffered multiple stab wounds and was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
It was initially feared that the girls mother had also been stabbed, but it emerged that she was stained with her daughters blood.
The girl and her mum still got to go and see Taylor Swift after the attack before leaving the UK.