Filmon Andmichaen, a 31-year-old Ugandan man, has been sentenced to at least 27 years in prison after being found guilty of the murder of his pregnant mistress, Liwam Bereket, and the destruction of their unborn child.
The crime occurred on August 1, 2023, in a wooded area off Freeth Street, Ladywood, Birmingham.
Andmichaen, who was in a relationship with Bereket, became enraged when she refused his demand to have an abortion after discovering she was pregnant. When she rejected his request, he took matters into his own hands, fatally stabbing her in the neck and leaving her to die.
He called emergency services over an hour later, after the fatal attack, but by then, Bereket had already succumbed to her injuries. Efforts to save her baby through an emergency C-section were unsuccessful, and the child was stillborn.
The court heard that Andmichaen tried to evade responsibility for his actions. After the stabbing, he was seen on CCTV walking toward a nearby canal, likely attempting to dispose of evidence, as the knife used in the attack was never found. He later returned to the scene with his brother, who became concerned about his appearance and urged him to call emergency services.
During the trial, it was revealed that Andmichaen had previously pressured Bereket to terminate the pregnancy, citing his existing family and wife, who was unaware of his affair with Bereket. He was also accused of attempting to deny paternity and showing disregard for Bereket’s well-being.
Judge Mr. Justice Choudhury described Andmichaen’s actions as “callous and cowardly,” stating that he had deliberately intended to kill both Bereket and her unborn child.
The judge criticized him for failing to immediately call for help, leaving the victim to die in an isolated area, and for showing no remorse.
In his statement, Judge Choudhury said, “Your actions have not only destroyed the lives of a woman and unborn child, but her family’s as well.”
Bereket’s family issued a statement expressing the profound grief caused by her death, describing her as a “beautiful soul” whose life had been full of love, laughter, and kindness. They described the loss as “beyond words” and said they will always miss her.
Andmichaen was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 27 years, less the time he has already spent in custody.
