Man Kills His Wife Weeks After He Was Released From Jail For Assaulting H

Madina Landsberg
An abusive husband murdered his wife just weeks after
being released on bail for violently attacking her, despite
her repeated calls to police to warn she was in danger.
Madina Landsberg, 31, had reported her 34-year-old
husband Dexter to Hertfordshire police several times in
the months before she died.
In April, Landsberg was arrested for beating up his
wife and smashing her mobile phone in a violent rage.
He had also been cautioned in 2012 for assaulting his
wife.
But, after being charged with common assault and
criminal damage, Landsberg was released on bail.
Just weeks later, Mrs Landsberg was found beaten to
death at the couple's home in Hatfield.
The case was referred to the Independent Police
Complaints Commission, the police watchdog, which
advised the force to carry out an investigation into its
contact with the victim.
Today, Landsberg pleaded guilty at St Albans Crown
Court to his wife's murder. He had initially denied
murder but changed his plea this morning.
The defendant, who appeared wearing a grey suit, blue
tie and white shirt, stood only to say 'guilty' after his
lawyers asked the judge for the charge to be put to him
again.
Mrs Landsberg had phoned police several times to warn
that she felt she was in danger
Two further charges of common assault and criminal
damage - relating to the offences for which he was on
bail at the time - were dropped by the prosecution.
Abbas Lakha QC, defending Landsberg, said his client
wanted to apologise to his wife's family, several of
whom watched from the public gallery.
He said: 'My client is anxious, I say this publicly. He
would like to publicly apologise to Madina's family and
friends for what happened.'
Mrs Landsberg had phoned police several times to warn
that she felt she was in danger
He added: 'There was no intention to cause death but it
is accepted that death clearly resulted from an assault by
him, which had an intention of causing very serious
harm.'
Prosecution barrister James Norman, speaking outside
court, said: 'He was arrested in April and charged
with common assault and criminal damage to her mobile
phone.
'He was also cautioned in 2012 for assaulting her and
she had made other calls to the police that didn't result in
any further action.'
After its contact with Mrs Landsberg, Hertfordshire
police referred itself to the police watchdog which
advised the force to carry out its own investigation.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission said:
'We received a referral from Hertfordshire
Constabulary on 11 June 2014.
'After a careful assessment of the available evidence, we
decided that Hertfordshire Constabulary should carry
out a local investigation into their contact with Madina
Landsberg prior to her death.
'We advised the force that if any evidence arises during
their investigation that might merit this decision being
reconsidered, this should be referred to us again.'
A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokesman said: 'The
background will all be laid down at the sentencing
hearing on December 17 but there wasn't much contact
between the police and the victim before she died.
'It is obviously a terrible tragedy but not one involving
the police. I understand the amount of contact wasn't
significant.
'He was on our radar to some degree but it was
peripheral.'
On the case being referred to the IPCC, she added:
'That is a mandatory referral because there was some
contact, but not very much.
'The case is also the subject of a domestic homicide
review, which looks at all partners in health, the local
authority and others.'
The force was unable to comment on how many times
the woman had contacted police before her death.
Judge Stephen Gullick told the killer he would be
remanded in custody for sentencing on December 17.