Norma Girolami

A DOMESTIC violence charity has called for “urgent” change after it was revealed that the man who killed a 70-year-old woman before burying her body in a graveyard had previous convictions.

It took a jury just 29 minutes on Tuesday to find Serkan Kaygusuz, 42, guilty of murdering Norma Girolami.

They met at Archway Leisure Centre’s swimming pool in 2017 and became friends. But their relationship changed when the killer demanded more and more cash from her and began seeing her as a “money tap”.

Mr Kaygusuz killed her in August 2021 but Ms Girolami’s body was not recovered until 15 months later. \

The jury was not told that the defendant had previously been found guilty of taking photos of naked women in a leisure centre and gym changing rooms, and convicted for battery against a former girlfriend, then aged 17, who he followed on her way to college and grabbed by the hair.

He was still under sexual harm prevention at the time he committed the murder Ms Girolami had confided in friends that she was worried about what he might do when she stopped giving him money.

Solace Women’s Aid, which works with victims of abuse, said “economic abuse” was a feature to look out for in abusive relationships, adding that this “could include preventing you from getting or keeping a job; making you ask for money; giving you an allowance; taking your money; not letting you know about or have access to the family income”.

Serkan Kaygusuz buying supplies for his burial kit

Speaking to the Tribune yesterday (Thursday) after Mr Kaygusuz had been jailed for life, Rebecca Goshawk, from the charity’s Islington branch, said: “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of Norma Girolami. Although it will never take away from this heart-breaking loss, the sentencing of Kaygusuz for the murder of Norma Girolami is at least some justice.

“It is terrifying how time and time again we see men with previous convictions of assault, voyeurism and domestic abuse go on to murder women. This needs to change and a greater emphasis needs to urgently be put on prevention and education after convictions, and generally to tackle misogyny in society.”

She added that in 2020, fewer than one in 10 domestic abuse cases ended in a conviction, while fewer than two in 100 reported rapes result in a charge or court summons.

The judge in the case said that the killer had a “cold-blooded plan” to coerce money from his victim, who had handed over almost £300,000 to him. Pathologists could not determine the exact cause of Ms Girolami’s death but she had fractures to her chest area.

Kaygusuz later hid her body in the St James’s churchyard in Friern Barnet after buying what detectives described as “basically a body disposal kit”.

Police found he had bought equipment to dig a grave, and restraints including handcuffs and a gag.

While being unable to reach her, relatives had received text messages from Ms Girolami’s phone that were full of spelling mistakes.

They has been sent by Mr Kaygusuz. He returned to the burial spot to try and firm up the grave after being contacted by police.

It was only last November when her body was finally found.

He pleaded guilty to six counts, including theft, fraud and perverting the course of justice for disposing of Ms Girolami’s body, but had denied murder.

Ms Goshawk suggested anyone looking to help a loved one who might be in an abusive relationship should seek information on how to be a “positive bystander” on the Solace website.

In a family impact statement, Ms Girolami’s cousin said: “Norma was a life-affirming, loving, kind and thoughtful 70-year-old lady. She was a treasured godmother, an aunty and cousin to many. She was also a half sibling.

“You, Serkan, have taken away something beautiful from the world; a unique, benevolent, kind and lovely person. “You cruelly betrayed her love and trust, took advantage of her generosity and system­atically stripped her of everything she had.”

Sentencing Mr Kaygusuz, Judge Philip Katz KC told the defendant his actions were “utterly selfish” and “motivated by greed”.

He added: “Only you know how Norma Girolami died, and you have chosen not to tell anyone. This was a premeditated, planned and cruel murder. In every imaginable way, this was a terrible betrayal of trust.”

l Contact Solace on their free advice line on 0808 802 5565.