A man has been jailed for life after strangling his partner in her home in Ealing, the Metropolitan Police have said.
Alvin Gitahi, 43, killed Vivienne Baraka, 35, at an address in Riverside Close, Ealing, on 26 March 2024. He was found guilty of her murder at Southwark Crown Court on 6 August and sentenced on Friday to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years and three months.
Officers were called at around 3.15pm on the day of the killing after concerns were raised for the woman’s welfare. When police and paramedics arrived, they found her seriously injured. Despite the efforts of the emergency services, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination found that she had died from compression to the neck.
Gitahi, of Uxbridge Road, Ealing, was arrested at the scene. Detectives then built their case by analysing electronic devices, phone records and witness statements, uncovering what the Met described as a pattern of abusive behaviour leading up to her death.
Among the evidence was that Ms Baraka had called her mother and begged her to contact police because she feared for her safety. Investigators also found that Gitahi assaulted her repeatedly, and neighbours told officers they could hear her screaming shortly before police arrived.
Messages recovered from devices seized at the address showed she had been subjected to repeated abusive behaviour, the force said.
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Denby, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts remain with Vivienne’s loved ones, who have lost a mother, daughter and a friend.”
“This is a devastating case where a young woman was subjected to ongoing violence in her own home, culminating in her tragic death. While no outcome can undo this loss, we hope today’s sentencing brings her family and friends some measure of closure and reassurance that Gitahi has been held accountable for his actions.”
He added: “Our commitment to tackling violence against women and girls remains firm. We will continue to pursue offenders and work closely with partner agencies to prevent harm and support victims. We encourage anyone affected to seek help from the police or support services.”
In a statement released through the Met, Ms Baraka’s family said: “We are grateful that justice has prevailed. Vivienne was very community-orientated and helped a lot of people during her life.”
“She was taken from us far too soon. She was a very much-loved member of our family, and she is missed every day. Vivienne’s spirit lives on in her daughter. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us through this difficult time.”
A pattern of abuse behind closed doors
The investigation centred on what detectives found when they pieced together the weeks and months before the killing. The Met said phone records, witness accounts and messages between the couple revealed repeated abuse, suggesting the fatal attack was the culmination of an escalating pattern rather than an isolated incident.
For residents of the quiet Riverside Close estate, the case has been a grim reminder that domestic abuse can remain hidden behind closed doors until it is too late. Neighbours who heard Ms Baraka screaming on the afternoon she died were among the key witnesses whose evidence helped secure the conviction.
The Met’s response to violence against women and girls
The force said the case demonstrates its commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, using every investigative opportunity to pursue dangerous offenders and bring those responsible for abuse to justice.
The conviction is the latest in a string of recent cases in which the Met has pursued serious domestic-abuse and violence-against-women prosecutions. Earlier this year, a civil claim brought by the victim of serial rapist David Carrick — a former police officer who used his position to target women — was settled for an undisclosed six-figure sum, a case that prompted renewed scrutiny of how the force handles allegations against its own (read more: Carrick victim demands Rowley resignation).
Police have also been tackling the illegal supply of firearms in the capital, recently shutting down a gun network whose converted weapons reached gangs across London.
Gitahi will spend at least 21 years and three months in prison before he can be considered for parole. The sentencing hearing took place at Southwark Crown Court on 23 October.
Anyone affected by domestic abuse can contact the police or the National Domestic Abuse Helpline. In an emergency, always call 999.
