A 34-year-old Ukrainian man, Yurii Muzyka, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 30 years for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, 29-year-old Halyna Hoisan. The attack occurred on August 27 last year at Hoisan's apartment in Greenwich, south London, where Muzyka stabbed her six times in the chest while their three-year-old daughter was present.
Muzyka, who was subject to a non-molestation order, had previously been reported for violence, harassment, and stalking. Investigators found evidence on his phone showing he had researched spyware, masks, knives, and human anatomy, with searches indicating a fixation on causing maximum damage. He had also hidden a tracker in their daughter's scooter to monitor Hoisan's movements.
During the attack, Muzyka took photographs of Hoisan as she lay dying and stabbed himself in the stomach after a neighbor alerted the police. In hospital, he wrote on a whiteboard: 'I can't believe my partner have sex with another boy.'
Judge Simon Mayo KC noted that Muzyka's actions were driven by jealousy and resentment, emphasizing the gravity of the crime given the presence of their child. The court heard that Hoisan had secured a non-molestation order just a week before her death after Muzyka threatened to kill her.