Boyfriend jailed for stabbing partner after forcing her to take a pregnancy test

Mark Alexander, 29, from Brixton, south London, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend Azaria Williams, 26, after forcing her to take a pregnancy test before stabbing her 96 times

A friend who stabbed his partner after forcing her to take a pregnancy test to prove she wasn’t having another man’s baby has been jailed.

Mark Alexander was today sentenced to 15 years in prison for the murder of Azaria Williams, who suffered 96 stab wounds in a “ferocious attack” at her home in Clapham, south west London.

CCTV, played in court, showed the couple in Sainsbury buying the test and cigarettes just 30 minutes before the murder.

During an argument on December 27, 2020, Ms Williams, 26, poured the urine sample out on Alexander, 29, the defendant alleged.

The couple started dating in the summer of 2018 and moved in together in March 2020.

Neighbors had often heard them rowing.

Hannah Toumazo, who called police, said she was watching TV with a friend during their recent argument and her pal said “he’s going to kill her”.

She told the emergency responder Ms Williams was “really screaming”.

“She’s screaming ‘No, no,’ she’s screaming like she’s being attacked,” she said.

Police forced entry and found Ms Williams face down in a pool of blood, leaning against her front door.

Paramedics were at the scene but were unable to save her life and she was pronounced dead a short time later.

Alexander told them he “did nothing” as he was handcuffed and claimed a man named Adrian Thomas was behind the attack.

“[He is] the person sleeping with my ex,” Alexander said.

“I woke up and found her like this.”

Judge Sarah Munro, QC, told Alexander, from Brixton, south London, that she was convicting him of murder after the jury rejected his guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

“You took from her family and friends a very dear young woman who had her whole life ahead of her,” she said.

“Her parents and one of her sisters are here today and obviously everyone who knew her is devastated by her loss.

“She went above and beyond to support and help you and loved you despite your difficulties and the way you treated her at times,” Judge Munro continued.

“She even hoped that you and she would get married and start a family together.”

In May 2020, Ms Williams called the domestic violence hotline and moved into a flat in Clapham in August, the judge continued.

She said Alexander falsely accused Ms Williams of cheating on him and headbutted her on December 1, 2020, resulting in a black eye.

The judge said the defendant was convinced he saw his victim on December 5 in a car with Mr Thomas, who he believed was having an affair.

Referring to the anniversary of Ms Williams’ death, Judge Munro said Alexander forced her to prove she wasn’t pregnant and “by doing so, prove she wasn’t having an affair”.

The judge told Alexander the horrific attack was “prolonged” and his victim sustained multiple defensive wounds, suggesting she was still alive and tried to fight it off until she succumbed to blood loss.

Video is loading

Video not available

Click to play
Touch to play

The video will start playing automatically soon8thCancel

Play Now

Ms Williams’ mother, father and sister cried in court as the verdict was delivered.

The devastated mother, Karen Downes, said after erecting a memorial for her daughter, three homeless men approached her and told them she always gave them money.

She said she always worried about Alexander and was “angry” when she came over with a black eye.

Mrs Downes said of her daughter’s death she had “maternal instinct” that something was wrong.

Alexander had been taking antipsychotic medication since 2008 and had a series of psychotic episodes during untreated periods, the court heard.

His mental health issues were riddled with criminal offenses, with six trials for seven different offences, the court heard.

Evidence is said to indicate that Alexander went off his medication on December 12.

James Wood, QC, defending himself, said his client’s “long-standing illness” influenced his conduct.

Mr Wood also argued that Alexander did not “plan” the attack but was prompted by an argument that arose from the pregnancy test.