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Car firm boss admits trying to stab pregnant woman to death in West Midland street

A car firm boss has admitted attempting to murder a pregnant woman who was repeatedly stabbed in a street attack.

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Babur Karamat Raja, 41, also pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted child destruction, possession of a knife in public, and the wounding and assault of two passers-by.

Appearing at Birmingham Crown Court by videolink, Raja, who will be sentenced in June, made notes with a pen and remained impassive as his QC passed on his apologies for the offences.

Raja's victim, who cannot be identified because of a court order, was in court and broke down in tears as he entered his guilty pleas.

A 40-minute hearing was told the sentencing judge will be required to consider whether Raja's level of dangerousness should merit a life sentence.

Police arrested the company director in March in the Trinity Hill area of Sutton Coldfield after the woman suffered multiple wounds to her abdomen.

Prosecutor Benjamin Aina QC said the Crown did not wish to proceed on a further count of attempted murder against Raja relating to an attack on by-stander John Mitchell.

Mr Aina, who did not open the facts of the case, told the court: "John Mitchell was one of the brave members of the public who went to the aid of this lady whilst she was being attacked."

Although Raja had attacked Mr Mitchell with a knife, he did not accept that he had intended to kill him, the court heard.

Defence counsel Jane Humphryes QC notified the court that the defence intended to submit a psychiatric report prior to sentence.

Raja has no previous convictions for violence, the court heard, but was once cautioned for an offence of dishonesty.

Ms Humphryes told the court: "It's our application that there ought to be a pre-sentence report as to whether this ought to be a life sentence, as opposed to a determinate sentence.

"He would like to say to the court his sincere apologies - he wishes to express his very sincere remorse and perhaps that is displayed by his early guilty pleas."

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