Woman accused of Covent Garden stabbings appears in court

A woman accused of carrying out multiple stabbings in one of London's busiest tourist districts has appeared in court

Stella Gollovena wasn't asked to enter pleas and a provisional trial date of April next year has been set

The 47 year old is charged with four counts of wounding with intent to cause gbh and one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place after four men were injured in Covent Garden last month

Police were flagged down in Endell Street, in a busy tourist area filled with bars, theatres and restaurants, at around 12.25pm by one of the victims, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard last month.

He and a second man reported being stabbed before the suspect was chased and tasered.

The court heard that police took statements from four men who were treated in hospital for stab wounds to their backs, while a fifth person said at the scene that they had also been stabbed but did not want to give a statement.

It is alleged Gollovena had a pair of scissors, also described as a “pair of shears”, when she was arrested.

The Metropolitan Police said the four men – aged 34, 39, 42 and 56 – had stab wounds but were discharged from hospital as their injuries were not deemed life-threatening or life-changing.

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