Man found guilty at Stafford Crown Court over murder of ex-partner in house fire
The blaze happened back in February
Last updated 12th Oct 2023
A man's been found guilty of murdering and making threats to kill a woman who died in a Stoke on Trent house fire.
42 year old Georgian Constantin has been convicted over the death of his ex partner Valentina following the blaze on Campbell Road in the city back in February.
The court heard how that on 7 February 2023, two days before Valentina’s death, Constantin was seen on CCTV purchasing a green plastic jerry can, filling it up with petrol and paying for it at Sainsbury’s petrol station on nearby London Road. Constantin did not own a car.
On 8 February 2023, CCTV footage showed a figure wearing a padded coat with the hood up. It also showed the figure crouching below the low wall in front of Valentina’s house for around 45 seconds before standing up and walking away. It was put to the jury that one common sense conclusion was that Constantin was putting the petrol there in anticipation of his attack the following day.
On 9 February 2023, Constantin went into two shops in Hanley to try to sell his laptop saying he ‘needed money’. The shops declined to buy it and this same laptop was found at the scene near to Valentina’s body.
After he visited the shops, CCTV showed Constantin walking along Campbell Road and reaching over the wall at Valentina’s house, retrieving something and putting it into his rucksack and walking away just before 2.20 pm.
The court heard that Constantin had arranged to meet Valentina at her house saying he was going to give her some money. Further CCTV footage shows Constantin outside Valentina’s house again at 2.32pm, just minutes before the fire.
Within minutes of the fire, and using Valentina’s phone, Constantin sent her boyfriend a voice message saying he ‘has sorted her out and was coming for him’.
He was captured on CCTV at 2.48pm moving away from Campbell Road towards Hanley.
Following a police manhunt for her ex-husband, he was eventually arrested in London and later went on to deny murder.
But the jury found him guilty, and also guilty of threats to kill.
Detective Inspector Adrian Webb, of Staffordshire Police Major Investigations Department, said: “Valentina worked tirelessly to attempt to make a better life for her son. I can’t imagine how her murder, when he was just 16, has impacted on him.
“Georgian Constantin’s cruel, self-pitying and cowardly act has left a son without a mother and a father jailed for murder. Valentina sought a happier life and Constantin made sure that was never going to happen.
“Constantin murdered his ex-wife by setting her on fire. He made no attempt to assist her or seek help. Instead, he threatened to kill Valentina’s new partner before running off to London. He thought he could use false details, dispose of phones and hide on the streets of London after murdering his ex-wife. He underestimated our determination to seek justice for Valentina.
“Throughout the trial, Constantin has sought to taint and derogate Valentina, a woman he said he loved. He made unsubstantiated claims that she was unfaithful, that she had many boyfriends and that her mind had been twisted. He tried to convince the jury that Valentina was to blame for her own death.
“Valentina never had a voice in this trial but her family and friends described a her as a loving, hard-working mother who was ‘looking forward to the future’. They said she tried her best to help and support her ex-husband who gambled away the family’s money.
“I would like to thank the jury for their time and careful consideration, and Valentina’s son, family for their support during this trial, with some providing evidence from Italy and Romania, and for the neighbours and members of the public for their bravery and selflessness in trying to save Valentina’s life. I would like to recognise the dedication and hard work of my colleagues who worked tirelessly and professionally during the search for Constantin and the subsequent investigation.”
Constantin is due to be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on 31 October. The judge thanked jury for their enthusiasm and care throughout.