LONDON MAN JAILED FOR MURDERING EX-GIRLFRIEND AND FRAUD
A man described as a 'cruel and heartless con artist' who murdered his ex-girlfriend by strangulation and buried her in a flower bed has been sentenced to prison.Laureline Garcia-Bertaux, a 34-year-old French film producer, was discovered in March at her London home, naked and wrapped in bin bags, lying in a shallow grave.
Kirill Belorusov, aged 32, fled to Estonia and attempted to cover his tracks by sending fake text messages to her friends and family.
He was later extradited from Estonia to face the UK court.
The trial revealed that Belorusov owed Ms Garcia-Bertaux thousands of pounds and falsely claimed to her in order to avoid repayment.
The murder was motivated by Belorusov’s concern about being exposed as a fraud, after promising to help her move into a fictional house.
Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC stated, 'It was, I'm afraid, all about you.
I am satisfied you killed her in an effort to stop being exposed as an imposter and fraud.
You are a very calculating person by nature.' Evidence indicated that Miss Garcia-Bertaux probably uncovered Belorusov’s deception and was killed to prevent her from revealing his true identity.
The judge described her as a 'talented, loyal, caring and vivacious' woman, much loved by those close to her.
The court also heard that Belorusov purchased an axe and rubble sacks from a Homebase store after the killing, with CCTV footage showing him at the store.
Following the murder, he escaped to Estonia and sent false messages claiming she was planning cosmetic surgery or was happy with her 'new fictitious home.' Her mother, Federique Bertaux, shared her grief, saying, 'There is not a moment during the day I don't think of my Laureline.
The death of one's own child goes against nature.' Belorusov was sentenced to serve at least 24 years in prison for her murder.
