Man jailed for car park stabbing murder

Vasile Gorghescu was sentenced to a minimum jail term of 31 years and 39 days

A man has been jailed for life for the murder of a shopping centre worker who was found with multiple stab wounds in a vehicle in its car park.

Vasile Gorghescu stabbed Chaudhary Mahmood 27 times. His body was found outside the Stratford Centre in east London, on 9 January.

Gorghescu, 42, of Rayner Gardens, Southampton, was sentenced to a minimum term of 31 years and 39 days at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 3 December.

Det Ch Insp Joanna Yorke, who led the investigation, said 45-year-old Mr Mahmood had gone to the car park to buy what he thought were some phones from Gorghescu, who intended to scam his victim - and killed him when his deceit was exposed.

Chaudhary Mahmood's family have been through an "incredibly distressing" time, the Met Police said

Det Ch Insp Yorke said: "Vasile Gorghescu drove to meet Chaudhary Mahmood armed with a weapon and clearly with the intention of resorting to violence should his fraudulent plan be uncovered."

She said Mr Mahmood came to realise he was being scammed but was "defenceless in the face of Gorghescu's attack".

“This has been an incredibly distressing time for Chaudhary’s family and nothing will ever erase the pain of their loss," the detective said.

"Throughout this process, Gorghescu has attempted to deflect blame away from himself, claiming he acted in self-defence and that he also could not remember what happened.

"The court through saw these lies and he has rightly been held to account for his actions."