Yordanos Brhane: 'Obsessed' killer jailed for Birmingham stabbing

Yordanos Brhane had just started to build a life for herself in Birmingham when she was stabbed to death

A man has been jailed for at least 21 years after admitting the murder of a teenager who had refused his advances.

Yordanos Brhane, 19, was found stabbed to death at her home in Unett Street, Hockley, Birmingham, on 31 July 2021.

Halefom Weldeyohannes lost his temper when Miss Brhane, a refugee from Eritrea, said she did not have romantic feelings for him, the court was told.

The sentencing judge at Birmingham Crown Court said the 26-year-old had become "obsessed by Yordanos".

Judge Simon Drew QC told Weldeyohannes: "When you confronted her and declared your love for her, she politely but firmly rebuffed you.

"As a result you lost your temper with her and eventually attacked and killed her."

• Yordanos: Teen's dreams turned to tragedy

Judge Drew said Miss Brhane had suffered a brutal, violent death and that it was Weldeyohannes' intention she should die.

The court heard how Miss Brhane's housemates called police after hearing her scream during the early hours of the morning.

Paramedics, who had to wait for 30 minutes for police to arrive before they could enter the house, found Miss Brhane in her room lying in a pool of blood. She was declared dead minutes later.

Yordanos's brother Gezae Birhane (right) said she had had plans to become a doctor

In court, several members of Miss Brhane's family listened to a victim impact statement, prepared by older brother Kibrom Brhane on behalf of them all.

He said his sister was very much loved by all her family and the community.

"This is down to her kind nature, her positive attitude and willingness to help people," he said, adding he now had trouble eating and sleeping and found himself in distress.

"What we have faced as a family is beyond our comprehension and understanding," he said. "We cannot accept it, we are always crying."

Speaking outside court, another of Miss Brhane's brothers said her murderer's 21-year prison sentence was not justice.

Gezae Birhane Kibedom said: "I am not happy, Yordanos was a nice girl. He hurt my sister, he took a life, it's not enough."

Miss Brhane was 15 when she fled Eritrea, one of Africa's poorest countries and sought asylum in Europe. She came to Birmingham in 2020 where her sister said she had "found happiness".

Weldeyohannes also came to the UK from Eritrea in 2020, the court was told.

He was granted leave to remain by the Home Office on the basis he had fled to avoid compulsory military service.

Judge Drew said Weldeyohannes had known Miss Brhane for many years and told a friend they had grown up in the same village.

In the days leading up to the murder, Weldeyohannes had messaged Miss Brhane pretending to be one of her friends, prosecutor Christopher Quinlan QC said.

In the messages he asked if Miss Brhane had any romantic intentions towards this friend, he said.

The messages upset Miss Brhane and in a lengthy phone call Weldeyohannes accepted he was behind them and said he wanted to apologise.

The shared house in Unett Street in Birmingham where Yordanos's body was found

Weldeyohannes also kept telling her he loved her but she said they were like brother and sister.

Miss Brhane told him she forgave him and he did not need to travel to see her but he did so anyway, Mr Quinlan said.

Once at Miss Brhane's house it was agreed that he could stay the night, with Miss Brhane trying to find him a room other than hers to stay in at the shared house.

At 02:31 the next morning, Miss Brhane texted a housemate saying "I am worried" and a minute later "Where are you", he said.

Sometime between 05:30 and 06:00 BST, her housemate heard her friend screaming and found Weldeyohannes strangling her.

She went to get help and the police were called. Meanwhile, Weldeyohannes fled the scene and went back to Sheffield before later going to stay with a friend in Stoke-on-Trent.

The friend saw a news report of Miss Brhane's murder and informed police.

Jealous and controlling

Weldeyohannes, of London Road, was at the friend's home where he was arrested on 1 August 2021. He admitted the murder on the first day of what would have been his trial.

Halefom Weldeyohannes stabbed Yordanos Brhane 15 times and strangled her

Det Insp Jim Mahon, from West Midlands Police, said Miss Brhane's murder was incredibly tragic for the family.

"She had left her country and come to the UK where she found work and felt safe. 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."

Following the murder, West Midlands Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the time it took officers to reach Miss Brhane's house.

An IOPC spokesman said: "We received a mandatory referral from West Midlands Police following the death of a 19-year-old woman, Yordanos Brhane, in Newtown on 31 July 2021.

"We assessed the available information and determined an investigation was necessary - with the incident being sent back to the force for a local investigation. Our thoughts remain with Yordanos's family and those affected by her death."

West Midlands Police has not yet provided an update on the investigation.

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