A man labeled as “dangerous” has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing his former partner after tracking her using a hidden device in their daughter’s scooter.

Yurii Muzyka, aged 34, had violated a non-molestation order when he forcibly entered the residence of 29-year-old Halyna Hoisan in Greenwich, London, on August 27. Despite the presence of their three-year-old child, Muzyka viciously stabbed Hoisan six times in the chest. He proceeded to capture images of the victim as she lay dying before inflicting a self-inflicted wound upon himself when a man she was on a date with sought help from the authorities.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Muzyka, a Ukrainian national residing in New Malden, south London, was convicted of murder and possession of a weapon. Judge Simon Mayo KC sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 30 years, highlighting the calculated and prolonged nature of the attack on a beloved mother within her own home.

The judge condemned Muzyka’s actions, pointing out that he had meticulously planned the assault, purchasing a knife shortly before the incident and conducting online searches on vulnerable body areas, including the chest. The judge emphasized Muzyka’s intent to kill and the devastating impact of his actions on Hoisan’s young daughter.

The court learned that Hoisan, also known as Lina, had a tumultuous relationship with Muzyka, with reports of violence, harassment, and stalking from both parties. Despite relocating to Greenwich to escape him, Hoisan found a tracking device in her daughter’s scooter, leading to further incidents of harassment and threats.

Muzyka’s obsession with spyware, masks, knives, and human anatomy was uncovered through evidence from his mobile phone. He denied the murder charge, attributing his actions to a loss of control, a defense that was dismissed by the jury.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Franklin of Scotland Yard condemned the heinous crime, emphasizing the dedication of law enforcement in bringing Muzyka to justice and addressing violence against women and girls.