Murder victim’s friend tells of getting text messages ‘from killer’ using her phone

‘I knew something was wrong, I knew something was not right’

Laureline Garcia-Bertaux, 34, was found dead in a shallow grave in the back garden of her home in Kew, southwest London, on 5 March 2019. Credit: Metropolitan Police Service.

The friend of a French film producer found buried in a shallow grave has told a court how she received “strange” text messages from her alleged killer using her phone.

Kirill Belorusov, 32, is accused of strangling his ex-girlfriend Laureline Garcia-Bertaux, 34, in her home before sending text messages from her mobile to lay a false trail.

He was later captured on CCTV buying an axe, rubble sacks and plastic clogs in Homebase which he used to dispose of her body in a flower bed in her back garden, it is claimed.

The Old Bailey heard how Ms Garcia-Bertaux’s friends became concerned and raised the alarm after the defendant allegedly sent text messages purporting to come from her.

Giving evidence, Beth Penman broke down in tears as she described “strange” and “confusing” messages from her close friend’s phone in the days before she was found dead.

They described the film producer going on a shopping spree in Oxford Street, buying shoes and dresses.

Ms Penman said it was “completely” surprising, because Ms Garcia-Bertaux preferred to shop online than at busy shopping centres.

Further texts described her “beautiful” new house, saying now she could “focus on being young and hot again”.

Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC asked: “Is that how Laureline might describe her ambitions for the future?”

Ms Penman said it was not.

On the evening of 3 March, Ms Penman was told by text that Ms Garcia-Bertaux had met a “fit” vet.

Mr Glasgow said: “What you are being told in these messages is that Laureline had met some random stranger, going to coffee with him. Was this the kind of thing Laureline might do?”

The witness said: “No. It seemed far-fetched to me.”

Asked if she was alarmed by it, she said: “It seemed strange, yes.”

Kirill Belorusov, 32, who is on trial at the Old Bailey in London charged with the murder of French film producer Laureline Garcia-Bertaux in Kew, southwest London. (Metropolitan Police/PA)

The following day, Ms Garcia-Bertaux did not turn up for work and Ms Penman received no reply after she texted to check her friend was safe after her date.

By 5 March, Ms Penman’s concerns had grown and she exchanged text messages with the defendant, asking him for the address of the new house.

By the time police were called in, Ms Penman told jurors: “I knew something was wrong. I knew that something was not right.”

Ms Garcia-Bertaux was found naked, bound, wrapped in bin bags and buried in a flower bed in the back garden of her flat in Kew, southwest London on 5 March.

Mr Belorusov fled to his home country Estonia but was brought back to Britain to face trial for her murder, jurors heard.

The prosecution allege the defendant owed Ms Garcia-Bertaux thousands of pounds and pretended he had cancer to avoid paying it back.

They say he then tricked his way into her home by claiming he would help her move into a new rented house he had found for her.

Mr Belorusov has denied murder and the trial continues.

Press Association contributed to this report.