Valentin Lazar, already serving a life sentence for the murder of Maria Rawlings, receives an additional five-year sentence for her rape, after confessing to the crime in prison.
Valentin Lazar, a 23-year-old man, has been given an additional five-year sentence for raping 45-year-old Maria Rawlings in May 2021, prior to murdering her in Romford, east London. The recent sentence comes on top of his existing life sentence, with a minimum of 23 years and six months, following his confession to the rape which he made to a prison officer at Belmarsh prison. This confession led to the imposition of the extra sentence aimed at delaying his potential consideration for release.
The details of the crime, as recounted in court, include Lazar’s manipulation of Ms. Rawlings into an undergrowth area, raping her, and then murdering her, in an attempt to disguise the crime as a robbery. The revelation of these details provided a clear depiction of the brutality of his actions against the victim.
During the sentencing, Judge Mark Lucraft pointed out the heinous nature of Lazar’s actions, noting that the rape was committed without consent and with full awareness of the impact of his actions. The additional sentence has been seen as a step towards justice for the victim’s family, who have expressed enduring anguish caused by the loss of Ms. Rawlings.
The confession and subsequent additional sentence shed light on the violent and premeditated nature of Lazar’s crimes. This development has brought more pain to the victim’s family, highlighting the extended impact of such heinous actions. The case underscores the severity of Lazar’s offenses and the lasting repercussions on the affected family.
