MAN JAILED FOR 17 YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS AFTER STABBING WOMAN IN ABERFAN
A man convicted of attempting to murder a woman has received a prison sentence of 17 years and four months for both attempted murder and stalking.Daniel Mihai Popescu, aged 29 and currently without a fixed residence, was sentenced today following the brutal assault that took place in Aberfan last December.
He attacked his 29-year-old victim in a street, stabbing her multiple times and causing her serious injuries.
Emergency services responded shortly before 9:10 am on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, after reports indicated a woman had been stabbed on Moy Road, Aberfan, Merthyr.
Popescu fled the scene immediately but was later located and detained at approximately 3:50 pm the same day in the Merthyr area on suspicion of attempted murder.
The injured woman, known to Popescu, was hospitalized but was discharged the following day.
Popescu appeared in Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, April 4, where he pleaded guilty to attempted murder and admitted to stalking offenses.
Detective Inspector James Morris commented, “Daniel Popescu armed himself with a knife and lay in wait for his victim before launching a senseless and sustained act of violence in the middle of the street.
I can only imagine the fear she must have felt and the impact this disturbing incident has had on her.
“It is clear from the sheer vicious and sustained force he used that his intention was to kill her.
“The strength and bravery of the victim in supporting this prosecution has been extraordinary.
Unsurprisingly she remains psychologically scarred as a result of the incident, but I know that, thanks to her courage, Daniel Popescu will be unable to harm any further women.
I hope that today’s sentence will bring at least a degree of closure for her.
“I must also commend the actions of the courageous member of the public for their bravery in running to help the victim after the attack.”
