Norma Girolami

A JURY took less than half an hour to convict a man of murdering a 70-year-old woman whose remains were hidden in a cemetery this afternoon (Tuesday).

Serkan Kaygusuz, 42, was arrested by detectives investigating the disappearance of Norma Girolami, who was first reported missing in September 2021.

The inquiry quickly had turned into a murder investigation but a long search for Ms Girolami’s body only ended in November when she was found buried St James Churchyard at Friern Barnet.

After her disappearance, text messages had been received from her phone number saying she was away on holiday, but relatives quickly realised that these messages were not from her. The texts were sent by Mr Kaygusuz, whose first language was Turkish and were littered with grammatical errors and pet names were used incorrectly.

Ms Girolami lived in the Highgate area and regularly travelled to Brent Cross to do her shopping using public transport to make her way there. She was also a member at Archway Leisure Centre where she had met the defendant. They had become friends and a relationship had developed, but it took a sinister turn when unemployed, Mr Kaygusuz, began asking for money.

In August 2021, Norma confided in a close friend that she had given more than £200,000 and bought a car for Mr Kaygusuz and that he was constantly asking for more money. Norma’s funds were depleted and she did not want to give any more money to Mr Kaygusuz.

Serkan Kaygusuz buying supplies for what was described by police as a burial kit 

On 19 August 2021, Norma had been on a day trip to to Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. When she returned home, Mr Kaygusuz visited her in the evening and he killed her.

He wrapped her body in a bed sheet and, using items he brought with him and wrapped Norma in large black plastic waste sacks before securing the bags with black duct tape.

The court had heard he then took Ms Girolami’s body to the churchyard where he buried her in a makeshift grave.

Mr Kaygusuz, who lived in Islington, was arrested in October 2021 on suspicion of fraud and false imprisonment, but was subsequently further arrested on suspicion of murder. He was later charged with murder and two counts of theft. He was remanded in custody where he remained throughout the investigation.

Detectives discovered that he had bought items online that included two “spading” forks, six ground stabilisers, overshoes, duct tape, a shovel, long rubber gloves, a large bucket, and forensic style overalls. He also purchased restraint items including handcuffs, a ball gag with wrist restraints and paracord.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, the senior investigating officer, said: “The items in Kaygusuz’s online purchase history were basically a body disposal kit. Despite not having found a body we were certain that he had killed Norma and buried her in a graveyard or a communal space.

She added: “Our search for Norma’s remains lasted fifteen months. We painstakingly examined forensics, CCTV and digital evidence from mobile phones and vehicles and my team recovered stored images from the defendant’s phone that showed the area around St James Churchyard. That was the final piece of the jigsaw that led us to Norma.”

Police said that when they had contacted Ms Girolamo on her mobile phone after she was reported missing, Mr Kaygusuz had listened to this message on the voicemail system and had gone back to the grave. He dug up the top layers of soil and reinforced the burial site with wood and more stabilisers in an attempt to prevent the grave being found.

The site in Friern Barnet where Ms Girolami’s remains was found

In court at the start of his trial, Mr Kaygusuz pleaded guilty to six counts including theft, fraud and perverting the course of justice for disposing of Norma’s body.

The court heard how, after Ms Girolami’s death,Mr Kaygusuz had applied for loans in her name amounting to £60,000 and that items of her property, including her jewellery, mobile phone, bank cards, passport and house keys, were found at his address and the address of another woman with whom he was in a relationship.

Detective Chief Inspector Blackburn added: “Despite having accepted that Norma had been murdered, her loved ones have shown great strength for her throughout our long investigation and now a graphic trial that I know has been an ordeal for them. My thoughts are with them, and with Norma today.

“I am pleased that the outcome is a guilty verdict. Kaygusuz’s treatment of Norma was calculated, controlling and highly abusive. He is a dangerous man, fuelled by greed and I urge any other women who may have been pursued by him to get in touch, at the very least to ensure that you are supported.

“My team has remained determined during this investigation for more than a year and a half, they searched diligently until they found Norma and relentlessly pursued the truth of what happened to her. I am incredibly proud that we have been able to return Norma to her family and to witness to the jury find her killer guilty.”