A spurned husband shot his pregnant ex-wife with a crossbow after 'festering with hatred' over her new relationship, a court has heard.

Former hospital site manager Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, 51, is on trial for murdering Devi Unmathallegadoo, 35, by shooting her in the heart with a crossbow bolt at her home in Ilford, east London in November last year. He denies the charge.

Ms Unmathallegadoo was eight months pregnant with a child from a new partner, the court heard. The baby survived after being delivered by Caesarian but she died hours later

Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo (left) allegedly shot Devi Unmathallegadoo (right) at her home

The Old Bailey heard the couple had married in Mauritius in 1999 but had separated in 2012 and divorced two years later.

Their marriage was arranged when Devi was 15 and Unmathallegadoo was 30 years old.

At the time of her death, Devi was living with her new partner, builder Imtiaz Muhammad, and expecting his child.

The prosecution say Unmathallegadoo emerged from the garden shed of her home armed with weapons including a hammer, knife, cable ties, duct tape and scissors.

Prosecutor Richard Horwell QC told the court: 'From 2015 the defendant had started to make preparations for the attack and by March of 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.

'By March 2018 he had acquired two crossbows and numerous arrows or bolts with which to carry out the attack.'

Ms Unmathallegadoo's unborn baby was delivered by Cesarean and survived the attack

The prosecutor continued: 'In March last year his cache of weapons and equipment was discovered by chance by a member of the public.

'Now that discovery was a significant setback to the defendant's plans, but such was his determination to carry out the attack that within days of the chance discovery and removal he had started to replace his cache with fresh weapons and equipment.'

Before the killing, he allegedly carried out surveillance on the house to determine whether or not the garden shed was padlocked.

By the morning of the killing he had installed himself in the shed and lay in waiting, Mr Horwell said.

Mr Muhammed saw Unmathallegadoo first he ran from the shed into the home, the court heard.

The court heard Ms Unmathallegadoo's new partner Imtiaz Muhammad, pictured after her death, witnessed the incident unfold

The prosecutor said: 'Imtiaz then ran through the back door which led to the kitchen, shouting for Devi, who was in the kitchen, to run.

'The two ran from the kitchen into the hallway which led to the front door, with the defendant in close pursuit.

'Devi turned left and ran up the stairs, whereas Imtiaz ran out of the front door.

'When outside, Imtiaz turned and saw the defendant, who was now at the bottom of the stairs, shoot Devi who was halfway up the stairs.

'The effect on her was immediate and she fell whilst on the stairs.

Unmathallegadoo, of no fixed address, had worked as a site manager at the Newham General Hospital until he resigned in 2013. He denies murder.

The trial continues.