This is the chilling moment a married man walked his pregnant girlfriend into woods to kill her.
CCTV footage shows Filmon Andmichaen, 31, park his white Toyota Yaris by the side of the road in Ladywood, Birmingham, before he and Liwam Bereket exit the car and walk towards a nearby wooded area.
It was the last time Ms Bereket, who was 27 weeks pregnant, was seen alive.
Around 15 minutes later, the video shows Andmichaen returning to the vehicle alone and driving off.
In a statement read to the court, Ms Bereket’s family said the loss of their daughter and sister ‘shattered our lives in ways that are beyond words’.
They said: ‘She was not just a daughter and sister, she was a beautiful soul full of life, laughter and love. She brought joy to everyone around her and was kind-hearted and compassionate.
‘We are forever changed and haunted by the nagging question of why this happened. Every day we have sat to try and find answers as to why he did this terrible thing.
Ms Bereket’s friends were already concerned about Mr Andmichaen’s aggressive and abusive behaviour.
A neighbour told police he saw the murderer punch Ms Bereket in the face months before.
Two hours after driving off, he called police and confessed to stabbing the 26-year-old, claiming it was an accident.
Police officers found Ms Bereket with fatal knife wounds to her neck and although she still showed some signs off life she died at the scene. Her baby was stillborn after an emergency caesarian.
Following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Andmichaen was found guilty of murder and earlier this week sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison.
Andmichaen, of Haddon Road, in Great Barr, was married to his wife, who moved from Uganda to live with him, and had children when he began a relationship with Ms Bereket.
When she fell pregnant he demanded she have an abortion, but she refused.
On August 1 2023, when she was six months pregnant and looking forward to becoming a mum, Andmichaen ‘took matters into his own hands’, the court heard.
After stabbing her, he returned home and confessed to his brother he had assaulted a woman, before eventually calling police.
Although he told officers he had had no intention of killing Ms Bereket, he had made every effort to ensure she couldn’t call for help, the jury heard. This included taking her phone, which was later found in the boot of his car.
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In the days following the murder, witnesses told police that they had previously seen Andmichaen assault Ms Bereket in the street.
Judge Mr Justice Choudhury said he had no doubt that Andmichaen had intended to end Ms Bereket’s life and that of her unborn daughter.
Following sentencing, detective chief inspector Jim Colclough from West Midlands Police’s Homicide Unit, said: ‘It’s just heart-breaking that a young woman who was looking forward to becoming a mum was killed in such a callous way.
‘This was a very distressing investigation for my team, but they have been determined to get justice for Liwam and her family.
‘Andmichaen has shown no remorse for his actions and has caused Liwam’s family further pain by putting them through a trial.
‘Andmichaen’s actions led to Liwam and her unborn baby girl’s death. I Hope the result today brings Liwam’s family some peace in knowing that the person who killed their daughter and her baby will serve many years in prison.
‘Violence against women and girls is unacceptable and won’t be tolerated. We know there is still more work to do, and it remains a priority for us.
‘We’ll continue working alongside our partners, to ensure everyone feels safe in the West Midlands.’
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