In a tragic and horrifying incident, Denis Beytula was found guilty of murdering his newborn son and attempting to murder his partner in a jealous fit of rage. The incident, which occurred five years ago in Howdon, Wallsend, shocked the community. Beytula fatally stabbed his three-week-old baby, Andrei, while he was asleep in his cot, before turning the knife on his partner, Andreea Stefan. Despite Andreea surviving the attack, their son Andrei tragically passed away in the hospital four days later.
Following his guilty plea, Beytula was sentenced to life in prison for murder and attempted murder. The court revealed that Beytula’s actions were motivated by jealousy towards his own son, as he felt neglected when his partner’s attention shifted to the newborn. Reports indicated that Beytula displayed a lack of interest and affection towards his son from the beginning, setting a grim tone for the short life of the child.
The court also heard how Beytula’s controlling behaviour and manipulation escalated, culminating in the tragic events that unfolded in October 2019. Threats and violence characterised Beytula’s relationship with Andreea, with the ultimate consequence being the loss of their innocent child. Beytula’s lack of remorse was evident even after the crime, as he callously confessed to emergency services that he had “killed my baby and my wife.”
Detective Inspector Graeme Dodds from Northumbria Police, who investigated the case, described Beytula as the most evil offender he had encountered in his 20 years of service. Beytula’s jealousy towards his own son and his partner’s love for the child were cited as the driving factors behind the heinous crimes he committed. Andreea, who worked at a Domino’s Pizza branch, later revealed the mental coercion and manipulation she endured in her relationship with Beytula.
Despite the image Beytula projected to the outside world as an excited expectant father, his true nature as a controlling and dangerous individual was gradually revealed. Andreea’s statement highlighted the emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of Beytula and the realization that his actions were not driven by love, but by a desire for control.
The devastating impact of Beytula’s actions served as a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic abuse and controlling behaviour within relationships. The community was left reeling from the tragic loss of a young life and the trauma experienced by Andreea. As the fifth anniversary of the incident approached, the case stood as a chilling example of the devastating consequences of unchecked jealousy and manipulation within intimate relationships.