London: Man yelled ‘I am God’ after stabbing neighbours

A man shouted “I am God” after stabbing his elderly neighbor and allegedly trying to stab a child.

Aaron Cook, 23, launched the feverish attack on 76-year-old Bella Nicandro in Notting Hill, west London, in August 2021.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished criminal responsibility.

Nicandro was found fatally injured by police at her home on St Luke’s Road.

In the early afternoon of August 4, Cook left Nicandro’s house and stalked the streets, arms soaked in blood.

He tried to stab a small child, but her mother saved her.

Cook acted erratically, raising his arms in the air and shouting “I am God, I am God” as people held him back.

In response to reports of a disturbance, police searched the block of flats where Cook lived and found Nicandro with head and neck wounds.

Paramedics treated her at the scene but she died of her injuries, the Old Bailey in London heard yesterday.

After the attack, Cook was taken to hospital where he reportedly racially abused police officers.

Last September, Judge Alexia Durrann ordered Cook to undergo further psychiatric evaluations and extended the sentences to early December.

At that time he was “unable to defend himself according to the last report”.

Cook denied murder but admitted manslaughter at the November hearing.

He also pleaded not guilty to causing aggravated assault and racially aggravated molestation to a child.

Prosecutor Anthony Orchard KC said the manslaughter charge had been accepted by the Crown and he had asked for the other charges to be on file.

Judge Alexia Durran adjourned sentencing until January 23.

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