'Prolific liar' guilty of murder after burying ex-girlfriend in shallow grave in Kew

Kirill Belorusov, 32, was found guilty of murder today after he travelled to London in March claiming to help his ex-partner move, after he lied about finding her a new flat.

He then strangled French national Laureline Garcia-Bertaux, 34, to death before going shopping to purchase tools to dispose of her body, which he eventually dumped into a shallow grave.

Mr Belorusov proceeded to send text messages from Ms Garcia-Bertaux's phone to her friends to cover his tracks before fleeing the UK and travelling to his homeland in Estonia.

Ms Garcia-Bertaux's home in Kew.

Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC said: "The last few minutes of Ms Garcia-Bertaux’s life must have been truly terrifying as this defendant squeezed the very life out of her – and, as she struggled for her final breath, there must have been a moment of terrible clarity when she realised that the man she cared for was a liar, a cheat and a killer. "

The court heard how the ex-couple met in 2009 and separated in 2017, after Ms Garcia-Bertaux accused Mr Belorusov of being a “slob” who would “needle her about her weight.”

According to police reports Mr Belorusov also owed thousands of pounds to Ms Garcia-Bertaux and would make plenty of excuses and even claimed to be dying of cancer so that he could avoid having to repay any money.

The former PR Assistant also worked alongside Dame Joan Collins in the short film 'Gerry.'

In November 2018, she sent a text message to Mr Belorusov begging him to repay the outstanding balance in a message which read: "I don't think you realise how bad the situation is!

“I can barely pay my rent this month and food for myself and the dogs!"

Ms Garcia-Bertaux’s naked body was discovered bound and wrapped in bin bags and placed in a flower bed of her garden in Kew, south-west London – which happened to be a day after friends reported her missing on March 5.

Belorusov was captured on CCTV buying items including an axe and rubble sacks in Homebase to dispose of her body.

He then sent text messages from Ms Garcia-Bertaux’s phone to her friends saying she was planning a "boob job" or "lypo" and expressing her delight at her new ‘home.’

One message read: "I went to see the house it's BEAUTIFUL!

“And Kirill gave me another £7,000 so I'm going on a shopping spree... And he transferred another £10,000 a week ago... And he left...Housewarming party is coming real soon...So hot tub and boob lift."

Belorusov fled to Estonia as Ms Garcia-Bertaux was reported missing by concerned friends after she failed to turn up to work at PR firm Golin.

He was arrested in Tallinn, the Estonian capital, where he denied murder but was extradited back to the UK under a European arrest warrant.

Unconvinced that Ms Garcia-Bertaux’s death was a result of a ‘panicked moment’ during a heated row, Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC, continued: "The killing itself was the work of three to four long slow minutes in which he calmly and methodically killed the woman he claimed to have cared for and then went shopping for the items he needed to help him dispose of her body."

Concerned friends reported Ms Garcia-Bertaux missing after she failed to turn up for work.

A jury of seven women and five men found Belorusov guilty at The Old Bailey after spending less than two hours deliberating.

Belorusov closed his eyes and nodded at the jury as the verdict was delivered and the judge – Nicolas Hillard QC Recorder of London is due to sentence him on October 6.

Prior to the killing, Estonian-born Belorusov worked in bars and nightclubs but told people that he was a stuntman and a casino bodyguard for high rollers.

Ms Garcia-Bertuax worked as a producer in the television and film industry and had worked on the 2018 short film ‘Gerry’ with actress Dame Joan Collins.

The actress is said to be "shocked by the horrifying news" after hearing of her death.

Belorusov will be sentenced on Friday (October 4).