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| Guilty: Ian Levy |
The murderer of mother-of-three, who could be heard by a neighbour screaming for her life minutes before she was stabbed her to death, has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ex-pawnbroker Ian Levy, 55, of Lime Court, Great North Way, Hendon, repeatedly plunged a large kitchen knife into his 50 year-old girlfriend Elize Stevens, the Old Bailey was told.
He pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Stevens, a welfare officer with the Jewish S&P Sephardi community, at his home on March 2, claiming diminished responsibility.
However, a jury convicted him and Levy must now serve a minimum of twenty-one years before he can be considered for parole.
Afterwards Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh said: “Through our investigation we’ve had the privilege of getting to know a little bit of the late Elize.
“She was a wonderful mother and decent person, always willing to support others in need and totally selfless.
“Behind the locked door of Levy’s flat Elize would suffer a mindless and frenzied attack for no reason.
“Levy tried to erase a beautiful person from our community, but he has failed. Elize will always be remembered as a loving mother and decent person.
“By its nature a murder investigation is distressing. It is unthinkable why people stab each other, but then you come across someone like Levy, whose actions are beyond comprehension.
“Levy is a cruel and sadistic man. He inflicted multiple injuries to Elize.
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| Stabbed: Elize Stevens |
“One can never articulate the pain that a family goes through when they lose a loved one to murder and Elize’s family have endured a very difficult and distressing trial, which has involved listening to the appalling injuries their loved ones suffered.”
Sadly, divorcee Ms Stevens was last seen alive by her family at a Golders Green restaurant the night before, skipping the meal so she would not be late for Levy.
Just after 10am the next morning downstairs neighbour, musician Michael Hardy, heard her screams for help, explained prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff QC.
“He ignored it for ten seconds then heard running and thudding as if people were running into things and heard a woman shout: ‘Help, help’ in a loud piercing scream.
“He could hear the woman’s voice saying: ‘Ian, Ian stop it. Leave me alone or you are going to kill me.’
“This was followed by loud screams and: ‘You’re strangling me. Murder! Ian, please stop, you’re going to kill me.
‘Ian please stop. You’re stabbing me. You’re going to kill me.’”
Levy refused to answer his front door to Mr. Hardy, who called 999 and returned with two neighbours.
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| Arrested: Levy |
“There was, by this time, complete silence,” added the QC.
Only when police threatened to smash Levy’s front door open with a battering-ram ‘enforcer’ did the defendant open up.
“He came out into the communal hallway completely naked and covered in blood.
“The police could see a large amount of blood on the floor and spattered up the walls and the legs of a prone female.
“She was naked, on her back and covered in multiple stab wounds.
“Lying on the floor next to her was a large kitchen knife, a hammer and a pair of mens’ tracksuit bottoms covered in blood.
“Her body was then taken away after attempts to save her life that were futile”
There was evidence of the attack occurring in the bathroom. “There was lots of blood dripped onto the floor of the bathroom and onto the edge of the bath and sink.”
The court heard the pair began a relationship after Levy attended a ‘Shiva’ hosted by Ms Stevens, following the death of her father in January, last year.
“They met that week and seemed to have formed or rekindled a relationship,” said Ms Bickerstaff.
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| Life Imprisonment: Levy |
Ms Stevens had moved to the heart of north London’s Jewish community in 2011 after an unhappy, violent marriage in Israel and had also become a grandmother.
Levy, who had tried online dating and has a background in the jewellery business, attended Slimming World appointments with her and was introduced to her family in October, last year.
She tried to help him find work by assisting with his CV after he quit a Burnt Oak pawnbrokers in January, this year and helped him overcome issues of depression and anxiety, the court heard.
On February 18, this year Levy called the police, expressing “suicidal intentions” and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
Ms Stevens sent him a supportive text two days later, which read: ‘Ian. I’m so happy to hear your voice, even though you are not feeling well.
‘You are extremely good enough to have a relationship, a job and be happier than you are now…..The future will be happier and I want to be part of your future.’
On February 28 - two days before the killing - Levy was discharged into the care of the Barnet Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team after telling a psychiatrist his anxiety had improved.
“Ms Stevens was supportive of his discharge,” said the prosecutor. “She was affectionate, patient and understanding of his condition.”
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