Estonian former policeman’s son WILL be extradited from Tallinn to Britain to face murder charge – after his film producer ex-girlfriend was found in shallow grave in her Kew back garden
- Laureline Garcia-Bertaux was found dead in her back garden in Kew, London
- Her ex-boyfriend Kirill Belorusov was arrested in his native Estonia this week
- He was brought before a court in Tallinn today and his extradition was approved
- Belorusov’s father said he will not visit his son until any court case is finished
The former lover of a French filmmaker found murdered in a shallow grave in west London is to be extradited to the UK from Estonia.
Kirill Belorusov travelled to his native Estonia on the day the body of his ex-girlfriend Laureline Garcia-Bertaux, 34, was discovered in her back garden in Kew.
A court in Tallinn today ruled in favour of his extradition back to the UK, where he previously worked as a barman in London.
Kirill Belorusov in court in Tallinn today. A judge approved his extradition to the UK
Laureline was reported missing after she did not arrive for work at a public relations firm
The Estonian prosecutor and Belorusov’s lawyer agreed that the conditions for extradition had been met. The court heard he be transferred to the UK as soon as possible.
Media reports from the Baltic country suggest he denies any wrongdoing and intends to contest any charge.
Belorusov’s father, Oleg, said today that he is refusing to speak to his son until the case has been completed in an English court.
Mr Belorusov Snr, 60, told MailOnline: ‘I will not visit him until the announcement of the judgment (in London).
‘I know nothing about this tragedy… Kirill left Tallinn without a single warning to family members after finishing his army service ten years ago.’
The family met up in London in 2017, although Mr Belorusov Snr said they had lost contact with Belorusov for periods of time while he was in the UK.
Left: Kirill Belorusov with his father Oleg, a former policeman. Mr Belorusov Snr said he will not visit his son until the case is completed in the UK
Miss Garcia-Bertaux’s body was found in the back garden of a semi-detached house in Kew
Belorusov, 32, is understood to have dated Miss Garcia-Bertaux ‘on and off’ for five years.
Miss Garcia-Bertaux, who lived alone, disappeared on March 3, after telling friends she planned to go for a coffee with a man. Police initially treated the case as a missing person inquiry until she was found strangled nine days ago.
Belorusov is the son of an Estonian police officer, he grew up in the capital and served in the country’s navy, military unit Eesti Merevagi.
He moved to the UK around 10 years ago and worked as a barman at the Egg Nightclub near King’s Cross in central London.
Kirill Belorusov is to be extradited to the UK over the killing of Laureline Garcia-Bertaux
He lived at a number of addresses with Laureline before the couple separated in April and she moved into the ground floor flat where her body was found.
Belorusov was arrested by local officers at an address in Tallinn at 12.25 on Wednesday after the Met police issued a European arrest warrant.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said on Wednesday: ‘Met homicide detectives have been working with Eurojust in the Hague and police colleagues in Europol to trace and detain the man sought in connection with the investigation.
‘The 32-year-old man was detained at an address in Tallinn, Estonia and is being held in an Estonian Police Station prior to extradition proceedings commencing.
‘A murder investigation led by Detectives from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command continues apace.’
Police officers search the front garden of the Kew home where Ms Garcia-Bertaux was found
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