By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-06 15:15:46 | Updated at 2026-10-06 16:28:41
1 hour ago
A forensics student, who was obsessed with TV drama Dexter, has pleaded guilty to the murder of Maria Saceanu, who was stabbed to death in a "kill room" inspired by the US show.
Benjamin Day, 20, a University of Worcester undergraduate, changed his plea to guilty on the second day of his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, following talks with his barrister.
Day, who was 19 at the time of the murder on December 20 last year, had been expected to claim self-defence, alleging he had set the room up as a "tribute" to the TV show in order to post on TikTok.
On the opening day of the trial, before Day's plea change, prosecutor Rachel Brand KC said Day, of Redditch, Worcestershire, had "lured" in Ms Saceanu - who was a sex worker originally from Romania - to the room, a rented Airbnb which contained instruments used to kill her and dispose of the evidence.
He had called 999 after injuring his hand, and was later arrested in a khaki top - similar to that worn of Dexter.
Day inflicted 78 knife wounds and starting to dismember her body, the court was told.
Mrs Brand told the court that Day had "prepared himself to kill her," but it "all went wrong and he was caught."
A forensics student, who was obsessed with TV drama Dexter, has plead guilty to the murder of Maria Saceanu, who was stabbed to death in a "kill room", inspired by the US show
She said that Day, who had transferred to a university course in applied biology and forensics after completing a year studying journalism, had become enthralled by the TV show Dexter - a drama focusing on a forensic scientist working in the police, who became a serial killer and was able to cover his tracks.
The court heard that Saceanu arrived at the Airbnb, on Barncroft Road, Tividale, around 20 miles from his Day's in Worcestershire, at around 10.30pm at night. There was no evidence of any sexual contact between the pair.
Day, according to Mrs Brand, changed into Dexter-style clothing and had lined the walls and floors with plastic lining, appearing to imitate the famous "kill room" from the show, prior to her arrival.
Following her murder, Day set about dismembering her body, but Mrs Brand said he had to abandon the "gruesome task" after cutting his left hand, ultimately leaving the property at aroud 12.30am on December 21.
After texting the Airbnb landlord to request an additional week at the property, a resident noticed a trail of blood outside and informed police.
They quickly found the body of Ms Saceanu, who had already been reported missing.
Day told police the cut to his hand was from a fox or a dog, and was later arrested on suspicion of murder as he lay in his hospital bed.
Speaking on Monday, Mrs Brand said: "We say that the evidence shows he planned this murder in some detail. He lured Maria Saceanu to a room that he had rented via Airbnb.
"He had prepared himself to kill her. He had planned to dispose of her body without leaving signs of what had happened and he planned to get away with it.
"But it all went wrong and he was caught."
He will be sentenced on December 4.
MORE TO FOLLOW...
