Man Jailed For Attempting To Murder Pregnant Girlfriend

Babur Raja, who repeatedly knifed his pregnant girlfriend in the middle of Sutton Coldfield town centre in March, has been jailed for 18 years.

The 41-year-old car repair firm director, from Sutton, had previously admitted attempted murder at an earlier hearing in May when he appeared from prison via a video link. 

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of assault on men who intervened; attempted child destruction in relation to the unborn baby; and possession of a knife in a public place.

During the sentencing hearing the judge was shown an image taken of Raja as he made his way to Trinity Hill to carry out the stabbing on at around 3.15pm on Friday 4 March.

He attempted to protect his identity by wearing a hoody which he pulled over his head and part of his face. He also stuffed a rucksack inside the front of the jumper to disguise his normal build.

The court heard how he got hold of a large carving knife days earlier, which the prosecution said demonstrated the level of planning he put into the attack.

Raja grabbed 40-year-old Natalie Queiroz, who was 36 weeks pregnant at the time, from behind as she was making her way to meet him at the bank in the town centre. 

He stabbed her repeatedly in the chest and stomach, cut her wrists and tried to slit her throat. 

Two brave passers-by - both men aged 31 and 69 - initially intervened and stopped the attack; they grabbed Raja, wrestling with him to try and get hold of the knife from his hands.

A third passer-by - a 44-year-old man - then ran over and joined the fight. He described kicking Raja more than 20 times in the head and body in a desperate bid to stop the stabbing.

Between them they were able to drag him off her as an 18-year-old lad then came and grabbed his hoody to pull him further away, along with his three friends, all aged 16.

The victim underwent emergency surgery to save her life and that of her unborn baby, with both now making a good recovery. Thankfully none of the Good Samaritans were seriously hurt.

Detective Inspector Ian Ingram, who led the investigation, said: “This was an utterly brutal and unprovoked attack which was particularly disturbing by virtue of the fact that it happened to a completely defenceless woman, in broad daylight, in front of dozens of people.

“If it wasn’t for the quick actions and bravery of those members of the public who put their own lives on the line to save Natalie and her unborn daughter, this could have ended much differently and may well have been a murder investigation. I truly commend them for what they did that day."

Natalie Queiroz released a statement following the sentencing. She said: 

“I am unable to find the words to describe how I feel about today and the events of the last 16 weeks, other than I have been left devastated by the attack on 4 March.

“As far as myself, our families and all our friends were concerned, Bobby and I had an exceptionally happy and loving relationship, living together and looking forward to the birth of our daughter - his first child - a child which he very much wanted right from the start of our relationship. 

“The attack he committed on me was completely unprovoked and totally unexpected. Luckily I was saved and my baby was born alive. My daughter and I continue to recover, which with this case thankfully concluded as it should be, we can now clearly focus on this.

“I want to take this opportunity to give my heartfelt thanks and pay tribute to the courageous people who came to the aid of myself and my unborn child, along with the West Midlands Police officers who were at the scene, the paramedics, the crew of the Midlands Air Ambulance and the staff at both the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and The Birmingham Women’s Hospital, without all of whom my daughter and I would not have survived.

“My attention is now on our recovery and rebuilding my family’s future. To this end, I ask you all to please respect our privacy in this continuing difficult and traumatic time. I have no further comment to make. Thank you."