Courts / Kerry / Report

Mother-of-two stabbed to death by 'jealous and controlling' partner, prosecution to argue

Summary

In a murder trial in County Meath, the State presented a case that Daniel Blanaru, 37, stabbed his partner Larisa Serban, 26, to death on 12 August 2022. Prosecutor Eilis Brennan described the relationship as turbulent, jealous and controlling, citing a violent incident on 31 July 2022 at a house in Balbriggan where Serban called emergency services. Brennan said Serban was found early that morning with heavy bleeding from a chest laceration and that a stab wound caused fatal injury to her heart, lung and aorta. She noted that Blanaru's Gardaí interview was confusing and that blood at the scene could link to him. The trial will continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury. The prosecution maintains that Blanaru intended to kill or seriously injure Serban. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mother-of-two stabbed to death by 'jealous and controlling' partner, prosecution to argue. Charges or matters: the murder of 26-year-old Ms Serban, his partner and a mother-of-two, at Rathmore, Co Meath on or about August 12, 2022. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• August 12, 2022 Incident
• August 12 Incident
• July 31, 2022 Incident
• 2025-02-11 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Carlow businessman guilty of possessing stolen tools
• Carlow Businessman Denies Stolen Tools Charges
• 'This criminal condemned us all to death': 'jealous, controlling' man gets life for murdering partner
• Jury takes just three hours to convict man who denied murder despite telling gardai: 'I am guilty, please lock me up'"
• Jury out tomorrow for man accused of stabbing partner to death
• Young mother murdered 'in cold blood', State tells jury

Read the original CNI report