Man jailed for ‘horrific, frenzied’ murder of girlfriend trying to leave him

A man has been jailed for the brutal murder of his partner who was trying to end their relationship.

David Xavier, 38, of Canning Road, Croydon, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday where he was sentenced to life in prison, to serve a minimum of 18 years before being eligible to apply for parole.

Xavier was convicted at the same court following a trial on Tuesday when a unanimous jury found him guilty of murdering 30-year-old Andreia Patricia Rodriguez Guilherme.

A murder investigation was launched after police were called to the couple’s address in Canning Road on December 11, 2020.

Andreia was found with stab injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem held at Croydon Mortuary the next day gave the cause of death as multiple stab wounds.

Xavier was taken to hospital for treatment to stab injuries and was arrested on suspicion of murder. He was discharged from hospital on February 9, 2021. The following day he was charged with murder.

The court heard that Xavier had been in a relationship with Andreia. They were both Portuguese, originally from Madeira, but had only met and formed a relationship in the UK.

By July 2020 their relationship was deteriorating, and in December that year Andreia was taking steps to end the relationship.

Because of this, Xavier became increasingly jealous and angry – even trying to stop her from seeing her family.

On the night of the murder, Andreia sent recordings of an argument she was having with Xavier to a relative. 

The recordings, which were later recovered from Andreia’s mobile phone, showed a heated argument with the defendant and Andreia trading insults.

Later that same evening Andreia texted a relative saying “he picked up a knife”.

A text to another said: “David is crazy – pointed a knife at me.”

Her last communication was a recording of events which appeared to have happened immediately before the murder. In the clip Andreia was crying and asking the defendant to leave the flat.

Shortly after that clip was filmed, Xavier stabbed Andreia more than 50 times with a kitchen knife. The knife was later found at the address.

Two minutes or so after the stabbing, Xavier called a member of his family, telling them that Andreia was dead. They rushed to the address and found Xavier still holding the knife and Andreia on the floor of the bedroom, covered in blood.

An ambulance was called immediately, but Andreia died at the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb, who led the investigation, said: “This was a horrific, frenzied attack against a woman who didn’t stand a chance. Xavier was armed with a knife and clearly enraged.

“Andreia’s family has lived through the horror of receiving those final messages on the night of her death and, due to Xavier pleading not guilty, they were forced to relive that night again at the trial.

“It is right that he is convicted of murder. No set of circumstances could justify what he did.

“Nothing can bring Andreia back, but I hope that Xavier’s conviction brings her family some comfort.”

Pictured top: Andreia Patricia Rodriguez Guilherme (Picture: The Met)