A 68-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a woman who died in east London four years ago. Kevin Bramley, of Hermon Hill in Wanstead, was charged on 5 November with the murder of Lorena Ciupeanu, the Metropolitan Police said on 6 November.

Bramley was arrested on Thursday, 5 November, on suspicion of murder. He was charged later the same day with murder, sexual assault, coercive and controlling behaviour and causing actual bodily harm. Police said all of the charges relate to Lorena, and that Bramley was in a relationship with her at the time of her death. The charges are allegations, and Bramley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Found unresponsive in 2022

Police were called after 28-year-old Lorena was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone on 4 November 2022, after being found unresponsive. Despite the efforts of paramedics, she died the following day.

The charge comes four years after her death, following a long-running investigation by the Metropolitan Police. Police have not given further details of the investigation, and no cause of death has been publicly stated.

Bramley, whose date of birth police gave as 12 October 1958, was due to appear at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on Friday, 6 November. Murder cases in England and Wales are heard at Crown Court, so a first appearance before magistrates is the usual first step before the case moves to a higher court.

Coercive control among the charges

Alongside the murder charge, Bramley faces charges of sexual assault, coercive and controlling behaviour and causing actual bodily harm. Coercive and controlling behaviour became a criminal offence in England and Wales in 2015, covering a pattern of behaviour that has a serious effect on a partner or family member, such as isolating them, controlling their daily life or finances, or repeatedly frightening them.

The inclusion of the coercive control and sexual assault charges alongside murder indicates that prosecutors allege a wider pattern of behaviour towards Lorena, rather than a single incident. The full details of the allegations will be set out when the case is heard in court.

Appeal for information

The Metropolitan Police has investigated Lorena's death since November 2022. Detectives have previously appealed for information from anyone who knew her or who was in the Hermon Hill area of Wanstead at the time.

Anyone with information about the case can contact the Metropolitan Police. The court proceedings are now active, so reporting of the case is subject to the usual legal restrictions, and nothing should be published that could prejudice a future trial.