A Brazilian man accused of stabbing his flat mate to death just days before she was due to get married has been remanded in custody.
Tejaswini Kontham, 27, an engineering graduate from the University of Nottingham, was killed in the flat in Neeld Crescent, Wembley, north-west London, last Tuesday.
Her friend Akhila Janagama, 28, was also knifed in the alleged unprovoked attack, but survived.
Keven Lourenco De Morais, 24, appeared at the Old Bailey today via video-link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs charged with murder and attempted murder.
The court heard how Ms Jangama walked into the kitchen and saw her friend being stabbed, before the alleged attacker turned and knifed her too.
The flat had four rooms rented out separately and one was shared by Ms Kontham and Ms Janagama.
Lourenco De Morais’ girlfriend lived in another room, the court heard.
Police attended the scene and Lourenco De Morais was arrested at 6.20pm.
Ms Kontham had come to the UK to study a master’s degree in engineering and was due to return home to India within days of her death to get married.
Judge Sarah Munro remanded Lourenco De Morais in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on September 15.
A two-week trial date was set for April 22, 2024.
Lourenco De Morais, of Neeld Crescent, Wembley, is charged with murder and attempted murder.
He was assisted in court by a Portuguese interpreter.
