Man spied on ex-wife for a month before killing her

A MAN spied on his ex-wife from a shed for a month before killing her by firing a crossbow bolt into her heart at her home in Ilford, east London, a court heard.

Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, a former hospital site manager, had amassed a cache of weapons before murdering his heavily pregnant ex-wife Devi Unmathallegadoo, the Old Bailey heard on Tuesday (5).

The 35-year-old Devi was living with her new partner, builder Imtiaz Muhammad, when she was killed on November 12 last year. She was eight months pregnant with their child.

Before the killing, Ramanodge had allegedly carried out surveillance on the house.

Richard Horwell QC, prosecuting, said: "There is one development before the attack and that involves the surveillance of 103 Applegarth Drive.

"Following the attack the police obviously searched the home and in particular the shed and a hand written note was found inside a jacket that belonged to the defendant and that note suggested the defendant had conducted surveillance in respect of 103 Applegarth Drive between 7 May and 6 June last year.

"From 2015 the defendant had started to make preparations for the attack and by March last year at the very least he was storing his weapons and the necessary equipment to carry out this attack in close proximity to Devi's home which was where the attack was to be carried out."

The arranged marriage of Devi and Ramanodge ended in divorce in 2014, after which she went on to marry Imtiaz.

She had three children, aged 18, 14 and 12, with Ramanodge and two young girls, aged five and two, with Muhammad.

Her unborn baby was later rescued by doctors in an emergency Caesarean operation following the attack.

Ramanodge, of no fixed address, denies murder.

He had worked as a site manager at the Newham General Hospital until he resigned in 2013.

The trial continues.