A 68-year-old man from Wanstead has been charged with murder, four years after the woman he is accused of killing was found unresponsive at a home in east London.
Kevin Bramley, of Hermon Hill, Wanstead, was arrested on Thursday, 5 November, on suspicion of murdering Lorena Ciupeanu. He was charged later the same day and was due to appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning, 6 November.
Alongside the murder charge, Bramley faces charges of sexual assault, coercive and controlling behaviour, and causing actual bodily harm. The Metropolitan Police said all of the charges relate to Lorena.
Police said Bramley was in a relationship with Lorena at the time of her death.
What we know so far
- The accused: Kevin Bramley, 68, of Hermon Hill, Wanstead.
- The charges: murder, sexual assault, coercive and controlling behaviour, and causing actual bodily harm — all relating to Lorena Ciupeanu.
- The victim: Lorena Ciupeanu, 28, who died in hospital on 5 November 2022.
- The arrest: Thursday, 5 November 2026, on suspicion of murder.
- The court date: Barkingside Magistrates’ Court, Friday, 6 November 2026.
What happened in November 2022
Lorena Ciupeanu, 28, was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone on 4 November 2022 after being found unresponsive. Paramedics fought to save her, but she died the following day.
Four years after her death, detectives arrested Bramley on Thursday, 5 November.
What happens next
Bramley’s appearance at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court was due to be the first step in the court process. At a first appearance, a defendant is formally told the charges against them, and the court deals with practical matters such as legal representation and whether the defendant should be held in custody or released on bail while the case continues.
Murder cases cannot be tried at a magistrates’ court. If the case proceeds, it will be sent to the Crown Court, where a judge will oversee the trial and a jury will decide the verdict. A plea hearing and a trial date are normally set at a later stage. The other charges Bramley faces would be dealt with alongside the murder charge, as they all relate to the same person.
Coercive and controlling behaviour is a criminal offence in England and Wales under the Serious Crime Act 2015. It covers a pattern of behaviour by a current or former partner or family member that has a serious effect on the victim — for example, behaviour that causes them to fear violence, or that seriously affects their day-to-day life. The offence was created to recognise that abuse within a relationship is often not a single incident but a sustained pattern of control.
Reporting restrictions apply to live criminal proceedings. Nothing should be published that could prejudice a fair trial, and the charges against Bramley are allegations that have not yet been tested in court.
Support for anyone affected
Anyone affected by domestic abuse can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247, free and in confidence, 24 hours a day. Support is also available from the charity Refuge and from local services in Redbridge. Anyone who has experienced sexual assault can contact Rape Crisis England & Wales on 0808 500 2222. In an emergency, always call 999.
Four years on
The charge brings a significant development in a case that dates back to the autumn of 2022, when Lorena was rushed to Whipps Cross Hospital. Her death was recorded the next day, and the investigation that followed has now led to the arrest and charge of a man who was in a relationship with her at the time.
