A court was told that a man armed with a knife forcibly entered the residence of a young mother and fatally stabbed her while she was sleeping next to her husband and three-month-old infant.

The accused, Daniel Sean James, 46, allegedly carried out the attack on 24-year-old Kirandeep Kaur at her home in Hayes, located in west London, on July 12. Subsequently, he leaped out of a window, fracturing both of his ankles, before being apprehended by the police in close proximity, as per the proceedings at the Old Bailey.

Prior to the assault, James purportedly traversed a playing field in Hayes garbed entirely in black and brandishing a large knife. Surveillance footage and doorbell cameras captured him approaching three different residences before allegedly sneaking up on a man in his twenties on the street and stabbing him from behind.

Shortly after, around 7:51 am, he reportedly forcefully entered the home of Mrs. Kaur, where she and her husband were asleep in bed with their infant. The husband woke up to his wife’s scream and witnessed a figure leaving the bedroom, according to prosecutor Charlene Sumnall.

Approximately two minutes later, James exited the property through a window in the kitchen-living room area on Uxbridge Road. Despite sustaining injuries to both ankles, he purportedly attempted to escape but collapsed after a brief distance.

The court was informed that it took about 24 minutes from the first sighting of the defendant to the arrival of the police at the scene. Tragically, Mrs. Kaur succumbed to a stab wound to her chest and was declared deceased at 8:26 am.

It was disclosed at the Old Bailey that both victims had no prior connection to the accused, who received medical treatment before being taken into custody. He has since been charged with the murder of Mrs. Kaur, attempted murder, and possession of a bladed weapon.

James, residing in Mercer Place, Pinner in west London, appeared in Court One of the Old Bailey via videolink from Wormwood Scrubs on Thursday. Judge Nigel Lickley KC scheduled a plea hearing for October 1 and tentatively set a three-week trial to commence on April 5 next year.

During the proceedings, James only confirmed his identity and was remanded into custody.