Smethwick attempted murder: Wife tells of her fear jailed husband would still 'get her'
A failed international singer who launched a frenzied attack in which he stabbed his wife 15 times when she threatened to leave him was starting a 20-year jail sentence today.
As Dan Draghici went to prison the badly-injured victim spoke of her fear he would still 'get her' after his release – a concern confirmed by the judge.
Elena, his partner for 12 years before he repeatedly wounded her with a knife bought by him the previous day, disclosed in a statement: "I know for sure he will come after me (in the future). He will not let me rest. He will kill me because he has nothing to live for."
MORE - Read police reaction to the sentence
Judge James Burbidge QC told her 42-year-old husband while passing sentence at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday: "I believe those fears are well-founded and you may seek her out on release from prison because of your possessive nature."
Draghici had warned in a letter sent to her from the cell where he was held following his arrest: "Don't think that I am threatening you but the hate will never die if you won't stop it (pursuing the case). We are in this situation because of you."
The defendant had been a popular musician in his Romanian homeland and other parts of Europe but the career had collapsed by the time he and his wife moved to England and set up home in Fenton Road, Smethwick.
She was the breadwinner for the family, working at the nearby 2 Sisters Chicken Factory. He was a heroin and cocaine addict who tried to control almost every aspect of her life amid fears he would lose her.
Draghici struck on March 2 after running her home from work after a final attempt to talk her into staying with him had failed. He went back to his car, opened the packet of three knives he had bought the previous day and returned with the largest of these hidden up his sleeve.
Elena was stabbed in the chest, head, scalp, neck, back, leg and chin. Defensive wounds to her hands and and arms revealed her frantic fight. She was saved by her sister Nicoleta who rushed from upstairs after hearing cries for help. A jury found Draghici guilty of the attempted murder of Elena and assaulting Nicoleta, who was scratched and bruised while disarming him.
