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'I am guilty, I killed her. Please lock me up,' man who denies murdering partner told gardai

Summary

In a County Meath murder case, Daniel Blanaru, 37, pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of Larisa Serban, 26, on 12 August 2022. During his fourth and final Garda interview, Blanaru admitted to killing Serban, saying, "I am guilty, I killed her. Please lock me up." He denied seeing Serban with another man before her death and claimed he had found her with her brother and a "tall guy." Gardaí presented statements from his sister and her husband, who alleged Blanaru had beaten and cut Serban. Blanaru also described throwing a knife he had found in his car onto the floor, which he could not recall removing. The trial heard video of Blanaru crying while viewing crime‑scene photographs and his refusal to return to the scene or retrieve the knife. The case proceeded to the Central Criminal Court with an enlarged jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'I am guilty, I killed her. Please lock me up,' man who denies murdering partner told gardai. Charges or matters: the murder of Ms Serban (26) on or about August 12, 2022. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• August 12, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2025-03-07 Publication

Why: In response, Mr Blanaru, speaking through a Romanian interpreter, said he argued with Larisa "because of him" before adding, "but I didn't see him with her". CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report