Gurdeep Garcha KC represented Madalin Dumitru after himself and his partner, Adina Mihai, drugged four men in a bid to steal money and belongings, resulting in two of the victims dying.
Oxford Crown Court heard of how Mihai, assisted by Dumitru, created an online profile and posed as a sex worker to gain access to men’s homes, before spiking them with the sedative gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). Once unconscious, Mihai would rob their homes, before leaving the scene with Dumitru who would wait outside.
Two of their victims, Mr King and Mr Mouat, collapsed and were found dead almost a year apart. Both had made plans to meet with Mihai, who travelled with Dumitru from Ilford, Essex, to their homes in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.
Mr King’s death was initially believed to be due to pre-existing health conditions and was not treated as suspicious. It was only when medical experts revealed Mr Mouat had been poisoned almost a year later, that the cases were linked and Mr King was found to have been poisoned in the same manner.
A third and fourth victim were also drugged and had items including a Rolex watch, jewellery, and aftershave stolen. Gloucestershire police believe there to be more victims of the couple who have experienced similar circumstances.
The couple were arrested less than three weeks after the death of Mr Mouat when they were stopped in their BMW in the early hours of July 31st. Mihai’s fingerprints were found on the wine glasses used to spike the men, whilst items belonging to some of the victims were recovered from the couple’s car.
Representing Dumitru, Gurdeep Garcha KC said the defendant had written to the court to “express his remorse”.
“He has been left in no doubt about the impact of his and Miss Mihai’s actions,”
“He has asked me to publicly express regret for what he has done and he would wish, through me, to unconditionally apologise to all of the families of the victims and everybody affected.”
During sentencing remarks Mrs Justice Brunner stated:
“You were not aware of the death of any victim before administering the drug to any others. I accept that you both did not in fact know the risks of GBL”
“If you had stopped for a moment to consider the risks, as you should have done, you would have realised that you were creating a high risk of serious injury or death every time you administered that drug.”
Madalin Dumitru and Adina Mihai were each sentenced to 17 years imprisonment.
The case was widely reported on in the media:
Mrs Justice Brunner’s sentencing remarks:
https://www.judiciary.uk/judgments/r-v-adina-mihai-and-madalin-dumitru/
Gurdeep Garcha KC was instructed by Lawrence & Co of 404 Harrow Road, London.