Man who stabbed landlords to death over Covid lockdown fears jailed for 33 years

27 May 2022, 11:32 | Updated: 27 May 2022, 12:08

A tenant who became paranoid about the Covid lockdown and stabbed his landlords to death in a "brutal and frenzied" attack has been jailed for at least 33 years.

Daniel Briceno Garcia, 46, killed Sonia Butron Calvi, 66, and Edgar Aguilera Daza, 60, at the home they shared with five others in Stockwell, south London, on April 1 2020.

The couple were found lying in a "bloodbath" at the property by police officers, the Old Bailey was told.

Briceno Garcia had become worried about Covid and paying rent during the pandemic after the lockdown was imposed.

Jurors at the Old Bailey deliberated for just 45 minutes before finding him guilty of two counts of murder.

He had admitted manslaughter but denied murder, claiming he was mentally ill at the time.

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On Friday, Briceno Garcia was jailed for life with a minimum term of 33 years.

Briceno Garcia lived with five other Spanish speakers at the maisonette in Dorset Road, in which his victims had sublet rooms.

Previously, Tom Little QC had told jurors how the defendant stabbed the victims repeatedly with a knife in a "brutal and frenzied" attack.

Mr Little said it was a "worrying and concerning" time when the Prime Minister announced the first national lockdown on March 23 2020.

He said: "Witnesses describe that the defendant had become concerned, if not paranoid, about the risk that Covid was going to pose and was concerned about that in this property.

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"That in itself you may think is understandable. It is quite another thing to react to the risks which Covid posed with the use of a knife."

On April 1, Ms Butron Calvi told one of the other housemates that the defendant was "constantly in a bad mood", jurors heard.

Later that afternoon, the defendant launched a "brutal and murderous attack", first on Mr Aguilera Daza and then on Ms Butron Calvi, the court heard.

One of the tenants heard shouting and opened her door to see Mr Aguilera Daza being repeatedly stabbed in the stomach, the court heard.

Ms Butron Calvi was then heard to scream "Daniel, no, Daniel. Daniel, I'm going to call the police."

Later, when the witness ventured out of her room again, the court was told the defendant, wearing white cleaning gloves, told her: "Go back into your room and lock the door. I'm calling the police."

Six 999 calls were made on the defendant's phone before police arrived at the property, the court heard.

Briceno Garcia opened the door and his hands were bleeding as he held them up, the court was told.

When police arrived at the scene they found Mr Aguilera Daza in a pool of blood in the hallway and Ms Butron Calvi was lying face down in the kitchen with a knife clenched in her hand.

Mr Little said: "What was found at the property can only be properly described as a bloodbath."

Following his arrest, Briceno Garcia said "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry" then declined to explain what had happened, jurors heard.

He went on to claim to a psychiatrist that his fellow tenants had been violent towards him to obtain money and would intimidate him by striking him.

He also claimed the two victims were trying to kill him and that he was hearing voices, the court was told.