A 33-year-old man, Ioan Pintaru, who stabbed an 11-year-old Australian girl in a random knife attack in London’s West End last summer, will not face trial for attempted murder, a court has ruled. Pintaru, a Romanian national with no fixed address, had previously pleaded guilty to wounding the girl with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife. However, he denied the charge of attempted murder, which was set to be tried at the Old Bailey. During a brief hearing on Tuesday, Judge Richard Marks KC announced that the prosecution would not proceed with the attempted murder charge, and sentencing is now scheduled for December 16. The victim, who was on holiday with her mother at the time of the attack, sustained multiple injuries to her face, shoulder, wrist, and neck. Pintaru, currently held in a high-security hospital in Liverpool, was not required to attend the hearing. The victim’s family, based in Australia, will be able to join the sentencing hearing via video link. No explanation was provided in court for the decision to drop the trial. The attack occurred on August 12, 2024, when Pintaru allegedly approached the girl outside a Lego store, placed her in a headlock, and stabbed her eight times. Bystanders intervened, disarmed the attacker, and held him until police arrived. Forensic officers later combed the scene for evidence. The case has drawn attention to the issue of random violence in London, though further details on the prosecution’s decision remain undisclosed.