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At Woolwich Crown Court, Romanian builder Nandito Badea, aged 21, who stands accused of stabbing Iranian opposition journalist Pouria Zeraati in Wimbledon, has denied inflicting the wounds himself, claiming a friend was the actual attacker. Badea explained to the jury that he believed his role was limited to carrying out surveillance on a man suspected of having an affair with another man’s wife, not participating in a violence-laden mission. The attack, which occurred in March 2024, resulted in Badea and another Romanian, 25-year-old George Stana, facing charges of wounding and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Both men have pleaded not guilty.
According to the prosecution, the stabbing was orchestrated on behalf of the Iranian government. Badea testified that it was his friend David Andrei—who is not present at the trial and reportedly cannot be extradited from Romania—who actually stabbed Zeraati. Describing the events leading up to the incident, Badea said he was approached in February 2024 by two men, Constantin “Bebe” Matache and Catalin Dumitru, who promised him construction work in the UK with a monthly salary of £3,000. After arriving at Stansted Airport on 22 February alongside Andrei, the promised job never came to fruition, and instead, they were instructed to conduct surveillance on Zeraati under the pretext of confirming suspected infidelity involving Bebe’s wife.
Badea recounted that prior to the stabbing, he and Andrei had visited Zeraati’s home on Queensmere Road multiple times performing what they were told was reconnaissance. He claimed he was unaware at the time of Zeraati’s identity as a journalist opposing the Iranian regime. On the day of the attack, 29 March 2024, Badea said he traveled to Wimbledon with Andrei and Stana, who drove. He revealed that the other two men coerced him into consuming cannabis and a “half pill,” leaving him feeling ill. Badea was then instructed by Andrei to approach Zeraati and demand £3. He described the shock of witnessing Andrei pull out a knife and stab the journalist from behind. “I was not expecting him to come from behind,” Badea told the court, adding, “I was afraid, I wasn’t expecting something like that.” Following the incident, the three men fled, abandoned their car, and flew from Heathrow to Switzerland the same evening.
Upon reaching Geneva, Badea said he confronted Andrei over the stabbing, questioning his motivations and expressing his intent to report the crime to the authorities. This confrontation escalated into a physical altercation, with Andrei slapping him and threatening harm if he contacted the police. From Geneva, the group traveled back to Bucharest where Badea claimed Matache and Dumitru further threatened him, warning that he and his family would face repercussions should he inform the British authorities. Meanwhile, Stana testified that he believed their mission was merely to “slap” Zeraati and steal a valuable watch because of Zeraati’s alleged affair, unaware of his political background. The prosecution alleges the attack was a premeditated action commissioned by Iran, supported by evidence including posters in Tehran branding Zeraati as “Wanted: dead or alive.” The trial continues, with both defendants denying the charges
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