Double killer, 53, admits stabbing partner and her father to death

2023-02-13

Double killer, 53, admits stabbing his partner, 31, and her father, 61, to death in ‘ferocious’ knife attack at north London home

Achilleas Costa, 53, admitted killing partner, Fernanda Assis, 31, and her father Joanilson Souza De Assis, 61, at their home in north London in November 2021
Costa denied two charges of murder but admitted two charges of manslaughter

A double killer is facing years behind bars after he admitted stabbing his partner and her father to death in a ‘ferocious’ knife attack.

Achilleas Costa, of no fixed address, admitted killing Fernanda Assis, 31, and her father Joanilson Souza De Assis, 61, at their home in Mayes Road, Wood Green, north London, on November 28, 2021.

The 53-year-old denied two charges of murder but pleaded guilty to two charges of manslaughter at the Old Bailey.

Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC said the pleas were acceptable to the Crown in light of psychiatric reports.

Fernanda Assis, 31, (pictured) died at her home in Wood Green, north London

‘The psychiatric evidence has been served,’ he told the court. ‘The effect of which is that it is agreed between the experts that due to the defendant’s mental health, the partial defence of diminished responsibility is available to them.

‘The prosecution have determined that those pleas are acceptable and we therefore do not seek to pursue the charges for murder.’

Mr Justice Murray adjourned sentencing until March 31.

At an earlier hearing, the prosecution said Costa had been ‘behaving strangely’ in Huntingdon on the morning of November 28.

Ms Assis’s father, Joanilson Souza De Assis, 61, (pictured) was also killed during the ‘ferocious’ knife attack

‘Police were called and from remarks he made at the scene it became apparent that he had been involved in an incident of serious violence,’ said Mr Jones said.

‘He gave an address to the police and on attending that address they found the bodies of the two victims, each of whom had been stabbed many many times in what was a ferocious attack.

‘The fact that they died at the defendant’s hands is, on the face of it, uncontroversial.’

Costa, who was Ms Assis’s partner, was subsequently charged with two counts of murder.

Costa was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing next month.

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