Mircea Cozmiuc: Wolverhampton murder trial told of stab suspect's rent row
An alleged killer was escorted out of a shared house in a row over rent less than three months before his 23-year-old housemate was stabbed to death, a murder trial was told.
Birmingham Crown Court heard a statement from Pc Gary Matthews, who attended the address on Carter Road to deal with an argument between housemates Mircea Gheorghe Cozmiuc and Sivan Amin on June 12.
Then on September 6 the same police officer recognised the picture of Amin as a suspect wanted for the murder of Mr Cozmiuc, committed three days before.
In his statement read to the court, describing the call out in June to a report of a rent dispute, Pc Matthews said: "Cozmiuc stated to me that he resided at the address which was a rented property, and was the sole tenant.
"He went on to state that a male stood nearby to us had been sub-letting one of the rooms for the past few months and was supposed to also be paying rent.
"However he stated that this male had not been paying his way and for the past few months he had been asking him to move out.
Pc Matthews continued: "Cozmiuc said that he had again asked him to leave that evening and he had refused.
"He stated that they had a verbal argument and that this male had become loud and angry in his manner. He had made no specific threats towards him, and had not assaulted anybody in any way.
"Cozmiuc stated that he was not scared of the man."
Pc Matthews then approached Amin in the other room, who confirmed Mr Cozmiuc's description of what had happened and said he had refused to leave because he didn't have anywhere to go. Eventually he agreed to pack a bag and go to a friend's house nearby, handing his key back to Cozmiuc.
"He then left the address and walked off down Carter Road, out of sight," added Pc Matthews.
However when he recognised the face of Amin on a projected screen at a police briefing about the murder, Pc Matthews flagged up to his duty inspector his previous encounter with the suspect and the victim.
The jury at Birmingham Crown Court also saw Christmas and birthday cards sent from Amin to Mr Cozmiuc which were found during a search of the Carter Road house following the murder.
One read: 'Happy birthday to you, with health and happiness. Live long. '
Amin, 36, of Merridale Street West, is accused of stabbing Mr Cozmiuc 34 times in Carter Road, Whitmore Reans.
He denies murder and the trial continues.
