Two cocaine-fueled killers who stabbed a man to death in a botched robbery on an affluent London street before going on a “callous” spending spree have been jailed for life.
Armand Tafa, 40, and Migen Emilova, 35, ambushed victims Stelian Moraru, 44, when he drove to Whetstone as a courier to deliver a package of drugs.
He was chased and then stabbed in the heart by the two killers, who scooped up banknotes from the road, stole his car, bought more cocaine, and headed to a brothel.
At the Old Bailey, the men blamed each other for the murder but were both convicted at the conclusion of a trial.
Judge Philip Katz KC sentenced Tafa and Emilova to life in prison and ordered them both to serve at least 27 years behind bars.
The judge said Mr Moraru – who was unknown to the two killers – had attempted to escape after being stabbed, but collapsed on the pavement in Chandos Avenue, in Whetstone, north London, on March 19 last year.
“His terror can only be imagined”, said the judge. “You couldn’t have cared less about him.
“Your behaviour after the attack was callous in the extreme – picking up cash from the roadway where it had fallen, you took his car to another location, searched it and stole property, later you both went to buy cocaine then to a brothel where you spent more of the cash.”
The judge said Tafa stayed silent after being arrested, while Emilova “lied and lied” and even swore to God on the lives of his family that he had not been responsible for the death.
“Your appearances in the witness box were some of the most shamelessly untruthful performances I have ever seen”, added the judge.
“You were in conflict in the trial and had to be kept apart. You deserve each other.”
The court heard Tafa, who lived in Chandos Avenue, had been drinking heavily and taking drugs with Emilova when they concocted a plan to rob the drug courier who was coming to the house, apparently out of revenge for a previous poor quality batch of drugs.
Mr Moraru had left his home at about 10pm on the night of his murder, telling his housemates he would be back in ten minutes.
His family told the court of a “loving, fun, and harmonious” man who had moved to the UK for work. They believe he “got involved in things that were out of character” after he moved to London.
The killers took a knife out of the house when they went to meet Mr Moraru in his Ford Focus, there was a struggle at the car, and after stabbing him they left him to die in the street.
His body was discovered at around 6am the next morning.
Tafa and Emilova were both found guilty of murder. Tafa was also convicted of robbery, while Emilova admitted that charge.
