In the novel A Murder is Announced, Dmitri Stamfordis (later using the name de Courcy) was the husband of Sonia and the father of Pip and Emma.
He and Sonia's brother, Randall Goedler, disliked each other from the start. Randall was opposed to Sonia and Dmitri's marriage, insisting that Dmitri was only marrying her for money. However, Dmitri was as in love with Sonia as she was with him, and so they married anyway.
Dmitri and Sonia went on to have two children, the twins Pip and Emma. He and Sonia split up about three years after the children were born, and he took custody of Emma. According to her, he was a bad parent on the whole, although he was quite charming. He would have her educated in various convents, paying the first term, and then departing, and leaving her in the care of the nuns for a few years. He and Emma were completely separated from each other during the war.
Portrayals[]
In the BBC 1985 adaptation of the novel which formed part of the Miss Marple series, Dmitri is mentioned but does not appear in person. Emma describes him in much the same way as in the novel.
In the ITV 2005 adaptation of the novel, Dmitri's name is changed to Alex Fabricant. His background is similar. After splitting with Sonia, he had custody of Emma. He then changed his name to Masefield. He does not appear in the movie in person and is mentioned only.