Norma Girolami: Man found guilty of murdering woman to take her wealth

A man has been found guilty of murdering a wealthy woman after hatching a "cold-blooded plan" to get as much money out of her as he could.

Serkan Kaygusuz, 42, killed Norma Girolami, 70, in her home in Highgate, north London, on 19 August 2021, then hid her body in a graveyard.

The pair had started a relationship after meeting at a swimming baths in 2017 and she began giving him money.

Kaygusuz, who denied murder, will be sentenced on Wednesday.

He previously admitted perverting the course of justice by concealing Ms Girolami's body as well as stealing her bank cards.

The court heard Kaygusuz, who was unemployed and lived with his parents in Crouch End, had first met Ms Girolami at a swimming baths in Archway.

Kaygusuz made an advance in a hot tub which had "flattered" Ms Girolami and the pair began a relationship, the jury was told.

From early 2018, she transferred almost £300,000 to the defendant, who used the money to buy himself a £20,000 car and travel to Turkey for a hair transplant.

But in May 2021 "the money tap which had flowed so freely for so long was switched off", prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward said.

Three months later, the defendant made a series of "sinister searches" online for garden tools, hydrochloric acid and the terms "will and testament".

He also bought rope, a "soft ball full mesh mouth plug with adjustable belt" which can be used to restrain a person, handcuffs, gloves, plastic overalls, tape and a spading fork tool.

Ms Ledward told jurors the purchases could "only have had one purpose," which was to "restrain and kill Norma Girolami".

On 19 August 2021, Kaygusuz went to Ms Girolami's flat and murdered her, the court was told.

He then pretended to her friends that she was still alive while applying for loans of £60,000 in her name.

More than a year after she went missing, Ms Girolami's remains were found hidden "in plain sight" in a grave in St James's Churchyard, Barnet.

A post-mortem examination found she had suffered blunt force injuries to the chest but the cause of death was "unascertained", the Old Bailey heard.

During the trial, Kaygusuz's lawyer queried whether Ms Girolami could have died of natural causes.

However, after less than 30 minutes of deliberations, a jury at the Old Bailey found him guilty of murder.

Kaygusuz gave no reaction as the jury delivered its verdict.

Following the verdict, Det Ch Insp Kate Blackburn said: "Kayusuz'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."

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