West Bromwich murder suspect 'knew nothing' about stabbing

Andrei Ilie told a friend he had nothing to do with the murder of his boss, 46-year-old Masoud Esmailian, but some time later confessed to a cousin that he was responsible for his death in August 2015.

He claims that he was threatened with a knife and sexually attacked by Mr Esmailian and was acting in self-defence when he delivered the fatal blow at the victim’s home in Montgomery Walk, West Bromwich.

It was in a phone call from a friend in England, after Ilie had returned to Romania, that the defendant denied any knowledge of the stabbing or how it had happened, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

Daniel Oprea, a fellow Romanian who worked in the pizza shop, said he called Ilie because of suspicions over his disappearance after Mr Esmailian’s murder.

All previous attempts to contact him by phone and Facebook had been ignored, he told the jury.

"I asked him also why he decided to go back to Romania, why he had not answered my phone calls, why he hadn't let me know [he was leaving]," said Mr Oprea.

"He said he had some problems in Romania and he was forced to come back because of them.

"I asked him straight if he knew anything about what had happened to Masoud – he said he don't know anything.

"I told him there were rumours. He said he would sort out his problems and come back to England.

"He said 'If you don't believe me, I'll go to the police and tell them I didn't know anything and I'm not guilty about anything'."

Earlier jurors heard that Ilie confessed to the stabbing after returning home, alleging it was in response to a sexual assault and a threat to harm him by the victim.

Mr Esmalian’s body was discovered wrapped in a blanket in his blood-spattered bedroom.

Forensic expert Joanne Millington said the blood spots were consistent with the victim having been stabbed on the bed or standing beside it.

Ilie, of no fixed address, denies murder and robbery. The trial continues.