Southampton shooting: Maricel Melinte 'pretended to make coffee'

Winchester Crown Court heard how taxi driver Maricel Melinte, 47, fired the bolt into 37-year-old Adrian Stroie's head having invited him over when he would be alone.

The attack in the garden of Melinte's home in Fuschia Gardens in September 2021 left Mr Stroie 'millimetres' from death.

Mr Stroie was sitting in Melinte's back garden when he was shot and then attacked with a hammer.

Despite being badly injured he managed to fight off his assailant and ran into the house, locking him outside before stumbling into neighbouring Winchester Road and collapsing.

The crossbow Melinte used to shoot his friend. (Image: Hampshire police)

Police dashed to the scene and arrested Melinte, seizing the crossbow and a broken bolt shaft.

Both men were taken to University Hospital Southampton, where CT scans showed the bolt was lodged in the victim’s skull and had pierced his brain.

READ MORE: Southampton man jailed after crossbow attack on friend

He was not expected to live but neurosurgeons succestmillisfully carried out a difficult and dangerous operation to remove the bolt.

After regaining consciousness Mr Stroie revealed he had unwittingly filmed the incident on his camera, which had been placed on top of Melinte’s shed to record a time-lapse video.

He has since moved away from Southampton because he no longer felt safe in the city, Winchester Crown Court was told.

Part of the crossbow bolt that was used in the attack (Image: Hampshire police)

James Newton-Price KC, prosecuting, described it as a premeditated crime, saying Melinte had deliberately invited Mr Stroie to his home on a day when he knew his wife and children would be out.

Melinte carried out the attack after pretending to go indoors to make them both a cup of coffee.

Mr Newton-Price said Mr Stroie suffered from anxiety, depression, and double vision as a result of what happened. Quoting part of his victim impact statement he said: "I'm no longer the person I was before."

Tim Clarke KC, defending, said Melinte had committed a "sudden and inexplicable act of severe violence".

Melinte was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court following his conviction for attempted murder (Image: Newsquest)

Recalling evidence given at the trial Judge Susan Evans KC said Melinte had accused Mr Stroie of putting pressure on him to sell drugs but said she thought it was "rather the other way round".

She added: "Nothing that happened between you and Mr Stroie could excuse your subsequent actions."

Detective Inspector Howard Broadribb, who led the investigation, said: "The fact the victim survived is quite simply a miracle. The bolt was millimetres away from killing him."

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