An attempted murder charge against a Romanian national who stabbed an 11-year-old girl in Leicester Square has been dropped.
The Australian child was on holiday in London with her mother when Ioan Pintaru allegedly placed her in a headlock and stabbed her eight times as she was leaving a Lego shop.
Pintaru was pinned to the ground by a member of the public and disarmed before police arrived.
The girl sustained face, neck, shoulder and wrist injuries during the attack on August 12 2024.
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The 33-year-old Romanian had previously admitted to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and knife possession.
He denied attempted murder and was set to face trial at the Old Bailey on Monday.
The court heard from Judge Richard Marks KC who said today that prosecutors had indicated the attempted murder charge would "not be proceeded with".
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), in a statement, said evidence from psychiatrists meant it would not be possible to prove Pintaru "specifically intended to kill".
Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of Ioan Pintaru appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, London at a previous date
| PAPintaru is currently housed at a high-security hospital in Liverpool.
He was not in attendance in court on Tuesday.
A sentencing date for his sentencing has been set for December 16.
A CPS spokesman said: "Our thoughts remain with the victim and family affected by the horrendous actions of Ioan Pintaru".
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The crime scene after the attack last year
| PA"(He) remains criminally responsible and will be sentenced accordingly," the spokesman added.
"The decision to accept a guilty plea to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm was taken after carefully reviewing evidence provided by two separate expert psychiatrists.
"The impact of the expert evidence meant that we could not prove that Pintaru specifically intended to kill.
"(It) is an essential element of an attempted murder offence."
The spokesman said that the CPS had explained the decision "to the family in detail and will continue to assist and support them".
News Corp Australia's The Daily Telegraph reported that the 11-year-old Laila was taken to hospital after the attack where she received treatment.
She had supported the Matilda's women's football team at the Paris Olympics and planned to attend a Taylor Swift concert in London.
With the help of Australian consular officials she was able to attend one of the pop stars concerts after being discharged from hospital within a week.
"It was bad to meet them under those circumstances but they are some people I will remember forever," she said about the people who had helped her.
Laila's mother said her daughter had been "incredible" and was ready to "get back to normal".
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