Ex-boyfriend, 32, denies killing fashion blogger film producer and burying her in shallow grave

AN ex-boyfriend has today denied murdering a French fashion blogger and burying her in a shallow grave. Kirill Belorusov, 32, was charged with killing film producer Laureline Garcia-Bertaux, 34, after her body was found in her garden in Kew, South West London in March. She had been reported missing the day before, on March 5. […]

AN ex-boyfriend has today denied murdering a French fashion blogger and burying her in a shallow grave.

Kirill Belorusov, 32, was charged with killing film producer Laureline Garcia-Bertaux, 34, after her body was found in her garden in Kew, South West London in March.

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She had been reported missing the day before, on March 5.

A post-mortem examination found her death was consistent with compression of the neck.

London-based Belorusov was arrested in Tallin, the capital of Estonia, on suspicion of her murder on March 13.

He was escorted back to the UK by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Extradition Unit and charged with murder.

Belorusov today appeared at the Old Bailey for a plea hearing before Judge Nigel Lickley QC.

The tall, shaven-headed defendant wore a blue suit and white shirt and confirmed his identity in lightly accented English.

He pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Garcia-Bertaux between March 1 and 5.

Laureline had been reported missing after she did not turn up for work.

The defendant, who is in custody, faces a three-week trial from September 9.

The victim’s mother sat in the well of the court for the hearing and was assisted by a French embassy official.

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PA:Press Association

PA:Press Association