West London man jailed for life for ‘brutal’ murder of mum-of-four

A man has been jailed for life after brutally murdering his partner, a mother-of-four, at their home in west London.

Ana Maria Murariu, who had been a victim of domestic abuse, was fatally stabbed in the early hours of February 28 this year. Police were called to the family home in Ealing at around 1.40am after a relative raised the alarm. Despite the efforts of paramedics, Ana Maria was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her partner, Mugurel Nica, 51, of Jubilee Road, Perivale, was arrested at the address. Following a trial at Southwark Crown Court, he was found guilty of murder on September 16 and was sentenced today to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 21 years.

Detective Inspector Richard Kempshall, who led the investigation, described Ana Maria as “a victim of appalling domestic violence” and praised the resilience of her children.

He said:

“Ana Maria leaves behind four children, whose bravery and strength throughout the investigation and trial has been remarkable. We hope today’s sentence offers a meaningful step towards their healing.

I would like to once again extend my heartfelt thanks to the responding officers who detained Nica and fought to save Ana Maria’s life. Their professionalism and courage were of the highest standard.

It is our hope that anyone suffering similar violence may consider reaching out for help when they hear Ana Maria’s story.”

Police urged victims of domestic abuse to seek support, reminding the public that anyone in immediate danger should call 999, while non-emergency assistance can be accessed via 111.