Stalker jailed for murdering ex-girlfriend
A jealous stalker has been jailed for at least 30 years for killing his ex-girlfriend after tracking her with a tracking device he hid in his young daughter’s scooter.
Ukrainian national Yurii Muzyka was subject to a harassment restraining order when he broke into the flat of 29-year-old Halyna Khoisan in Greenwich, south London, on August 27 last year.
Their then-three-year-old daughter was at home when Muzyka attacked Khoisan with a knife and stabbed him six times in the chest.
Following an Old Bailey hearing, Muzyka, 34, of New Malden, south London, was found guilty of murder and possession of a knife and sentenced to at least 30 years in prison.
Investigators found information on his cell phone that showed he was obsessed with spyware, masks, knives and human anatomy.
He had searched for these subjects many times and had 10 images of spyware, 44 masks, 186 images of breasts and hearts, and 261 images of knives.
The placement of the stab wounds showed evidence of his research as they were calculated to cause the most damage.
Muzyka took photos of Hoisan as she lay dying, then stabbed herself with the knife in her own stomach when a man she was on a date with went out to call the police.
CCTV footage showed Muzyka outside Halyna Hoisan’s flat on August 27 [Metropolitan Police]
The court previously heard that Hoisan, known as Lina, had been in a relationship with the defendant for several years and reported him to police for violence, harassment and persistent stalking, obtaining a non-harassment order.
He had moved out of their home and was seeing a new partner, which made Muzyka furious.
The knife’s box and a copy of the non-harassment order were found on the kitchen table.
Sentencing on Friday, Judge Simon Mayo KC told Muzyka: “By murdering Halyna, you robbed her little girl of her mother just days before her fourth birthday.
“You knew your child would be in the apartment when you arrived. This knowledge did not deter you. This is a very serious matter.
“I’m sure your actions were motivated by jealousy, resentment, and a determination to maintain control over Halyna even after your relationship ended.”
The judge said photographing his victim on his deathbed was a “degrading and intrusive” act and said a video in which Hoisin’s final moments were heard had caused “incalculable” distress to his family.
Khoisan’s mother, Svitlana, said in a victim impact statement: “I am deeply affected by my daughter’s death. I cannot understand how a person could do such a thing to another person.
“I still can’t believe he’s gone. I keep thinking about how much pain he was in and the fear he must have experienced before he died.”
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