Man sentenced for murder of ex-wife and mother in law

15/06/2012

A man has today been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 30 years after he was found guilty of murdering his former wife and mother in law in Newham in August 2010.

44 year old Sergei Zolotovsky brutally stabbed his ex-wife, 40 year old Svetlana Zolotovska, as she walked to work at around 7.30am on 12 August 2010 in Beckton Park, Newham. The attack was witnessed by a number of people who were also in the park at the time.

The defendant then immediately ran to the marital home in Leamouth Road where he stabbed to death his former mother in law, 70 year old Antonina Belska. He then attempted to set fire to the home and to take his own life.

CPS London Homicide lawyer Barry Graves said:

"Sergei Zolotovsky planned this attack and lay in wait for his former wife on the route he knew she took to work.

"Their divorce had been finalised just two days before and on that day Zolotovsky had gone out and purchased a knife.

"This was a vicious attack with the victim sustaining horrific injuries in a public place. A number of people were witness to this savage attack. I am grateful that they had the courage to come forward and give their evidence in court, their assistance has been vital."