'Evil predator' jailed for life for killing Nan in Romford
Last updated 3rd Feb 2022
A man who killed a woman after their paths crossed on a bus ride in east London has been jailed for life.
Valentin Lazar attacked Maria Rawlings and dumped her body in a bush in May last year.
The 21 year old, who has been branded 'evil' by her family, was told he'll serve a minimum term of 23 years and six months.
The manual labourer, who admitted the murder, was jailed at the Old Bailey.
Addressing Lazar in court, Maria's father Tony Rawlings said:
"Your 15 minutes of anger towards a defenceless grandmother has caused me and my family a lifetime of pain."
Judge Mark Lucraft QC said:
"This murder involved an intoxicated woman alone late at night and she was particularly vulnerable.
"This was a savage and sustained attack and a high degree of pain and suffering was inflicted prior to death."
Leaving the victim naked added to her "humiliation and degradation", he added.
Earlier, prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones QC told the court:
"It was an assault of exceptional violence, savage and sustained."
Outlining the facts, he told how Ms Rawlings had visited King George Hospital in Chadwell Heath complaining of a headache after suffering a head injury on the evening of May 3 last year.
Having left hospital without being seen, Ms Rawlings, who had alcohol issues, got on a bus just after 11pm, where her path crossed with Lazar.
The mother-of-two, who had been staying with her daughter in Witham, Essex, got off the bus when it terminated, along with her killer.
They appeared on CCTV to engage in a brief conversation before Lazar guided his victim by the arm towards some shrubbery where they disappeared from view.
After 31 minutes, he emerged from the undergrowth alone, with Ms Rawlings's white handbag slung over his shoulder.
He rifled through the bag then discarded it on the pavement, the court heard.
After the attack, Lazar boarded another bus, eventually arriving home after 1am.
A bus driver who saw him run across the road observed he had a "drug-like energy", with his eyes being very wide and fixed.
Ms Rawlings's battered body was found in undergrowth by a dog walker at about 2.30pm the next day in the Little Heath area.
A baseball cap with the defendant's DNA on it was left near to the body.
In statements by her two daughters and father, Ms Rawlings was described as a "fun-loving soul who would never cause any harm to anyone".
Her daughter Charlee Rawlings said:
"That evil man took a loving daughter, mum and nan.
"I hope that he gets everything he deserves and experiences the pain he has put us all through."
Older daughter Katie Rawlings told how they used to work in a cafe together. She said;
"My mum was such a bubbly person. She loved everyone and wore her heart on her sleeve."
She described being haunted by thoughts of her mother's last moments and the unanswered question of why Lazar murdered her.
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