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In this episode, I embark on a haunting journey into the tragic murder of Bella Nicandro, a 76-year-old woman whose life was brutally cut short in her shared apartment building in Notting Hill, London.
Aaron Cook, Bella's 23-year-old neighbour, was responsible, and it was concluded that he was in the midst of a psychotic episode when he stabbed her to death on August 14, 2021.
He had previously been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020 and had recently stopped taking his medication before the attack.
Pleading guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, Aaron was sentenced to a hospital order under Section 37/41 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
Intro music:
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'
linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic
References:
Boyle, D. (2022, September 15). Man, 23, accused of stabbing 76-year-old neighbour to death in her £1million Notting Hill home will stand trial in January. Mail Online. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11216727/Aaron-Cook-stand-trial-Notting-Hill-murder-Bella-Nicandro-year.html
Christodoulou, H. (2021, August 17). Man seen ‘pacing up & down covered in blood’ after OAP, 76, found stabbed to death as suspect, 23, charged with murder. The Sun. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/15891950/man-blood-notting-hill-murder-pensioner-stabbed/
Christodoulou, H. (2023, January 23). Child begged ‘Don’t kill my brother’ when killer tried to knife boy, 4, after stabbing neighbour 59 times to death. The Sun. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/21131829/man-stabbed-neighbour-death-detained/
France, A. (2021, August 16). Neighbour, 23, charged with murder of pensioner in Notting Hill. Evening Standard. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/bella-nicandro-notting-hill-murder-london-stabbing-b950906.html
Halpin, D. (2023, January 23). Paranoid schizophrenic shouted ‘I am God!’ after murdering pensioner weeks after mental health support lapsed. Evening Standard. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/aaron-cook-bella-nicandro-mental-health-murder-old-bailey-b1054946.html
James, J. (2023, January 26). Neighbour, 24, who stabbed 76-year-old woman to death at her £1m Notting Hill home and said “I am God” in the street is sectioned under Mental Health Act after admitting manslaughter. Mail Online. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11679125/Neighbour-24-stabbed-76-year-old-woman-death-1m-Notting-Hill-home-sectioned.html
Mata, W. (2023, January 25). Schizophrenic who claimed to be God sentenced after killing Notting Hill neighbour. Evening Standard. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/aaron-cook-claimed-to-be-god-sentenced-killed-notting-hill-neighbour-b1055630.html
Murder investigation launched after woman stabbed in Notting Hill. (2021, August 14). Evening Standard. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.standard.co.uk/news/woman-murder-stabbed-notting-hill-b950713.html
Tribute to Bella Nicandro, 1945 - 2021. (n.d.). MuchLoved. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://bellanicandro.muchloved.com/
Warren, J. & PA Media. (2023, January 23). Notting Hill: Man detained in hospital after killing woman, 76. BBC News. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-64371902
