A man who stabbed an 11-year-old girl in a random knife attack in Leicester Square will not stand trial for her attempted murder, a court has heard.
The Australian girl was on holiday with her 34-year-old mother when she was attacked by Ioan Pintaru in London's West End on the morning of August 12 last year.
Pintaru allegedly approached the girl as she was leaving a Lego store, grabbed her by the head and stabbed her eight times.
Police officers at the scene of an incident in Leicester Square in 2024 (Pennsylvania)
Members of the public intervened and Pintaru was disarmed and pinned to the ground until police arrived to arrest him, the court previously heard.
The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was taken to hospital for treatment for injuries to her face, shoulder, wrist and neck.
Pintaru, 33, of no fixed address, previously pleaded guilty to wounding the girl with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing a knife in Leicester Square.
The Romanian national denied charges of attempted murder and was due to appear in court at the Old Bailey on Monday.
At a brief hearing on Tuesday, Judge Richard Marks K.S. stated that he had been in contact with the prosecution, which made it clear that the attempted murder charge “would not be considered”.
The judge set a sentencing date of December 16, which the victim's family will be able to join via video link from Australia.
No explanation was given in court for the decision not to continue the trial.
The accused, who is in a high security hospital in Liverpool, was not required to attend.
