S&P Community employee Elize Stevens suffered '86 stab wounds', murder trial hears

"His case is that at the time he was suffering from anxiety and depression. He says that his responsibility for this killing was lessened," the prosecutor said.

The court heard the victim had come to the UK with her three children from Israel to escape an abusive relationship.

After the death of her father she met Mr Levy, who came to her home as part of a week-long shiva.

"They seem to have formed or rekindled a relationship," said Ms Bickerstaff.

"The children were unaware of the relationship until September last year. He didn’t really engage or get to know the family - but they knew that they were attending Slimming World together."

The court heard how Mr Levy worked in the jewellery business but was unemployed at the time of the killing.

He had also previously reported suffering from anxiety and depression and had rung the police expressing suicidal thoughts.

"It is the Crown’s case that the victim was affectionate, patient and understanding of his condition," said Ms Bickerstaff.

The jury was shown copies of messages sent between Mr Levy and Ms Stephens which said: "Ian I am so happy to hear your voice even though you are unwell.

"You are extremely good enough to have a relationship.

"You need to move forward and forget about the past - the future will be much better than the past was. I am here and waiting for you.

"I believe you can get through this with the right therapist and the right medication - you are a fighter."

The court heard how, on the night of the incident, Ms Stevens had dropped her family off for a Friday night dinner before going to see Mr Levy.

"She told her daughters that she had to be at Ian’s by 9 o clock. She went off to Ian’s and that was the last time they saw her alive."

Ms Bickerstaff said that Michael Harvey, who has lived in the block for 14 years, was Mr Levy’s upstairs neighbour.

"He had made an effort to become friends and they had visited the gym together and he had helped Mr Levy to set up an internet dating profile.

"On the morning at approximately 10am he could hear a commotion upstairs and the sound of a woman screaming.

"He heard what sounded like running footsteps and the woman’s voice screaming, saying 'help, help' and a loud piercing scream.

"He identified that the noise was coming from Ian Levy’s flat.

"He heard more shouting, 'Ian stop it. Leave me alone or you’re going to kill me', and the sound of more running...

"He could still hear the voice saying ‘Ian please stop, you’re going to kill me. Ian please stop you’re stabbing me'.

"She was shouting to the person at the door to kick the door down."

Mr Harvey called the police but was unable to force the door open, so called two other neighbours to help him.

The prosecutor said: "Police officers arrived at the block and tried and failed to get a response from Mr Levy.

"Only when they told him they were going to get an 'enforcer' to break down the door did he open it. He came out into the hallway...covered in blood.

"Police officers could see a large amount of blood on the floor and spattered up the wall and the legs of a prone woman.

"She was...on her back and covered in multiple stab wounds.

"Lying next to her was a large kitchen knife, a hammer and a pair of male’s tracksuit bottoms."

Mr Levy, of Limeway, Great North Way, Hendon, denies murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The trial continues.