A MAN who attacked and killed Astra Sirapina in Coventry has been sentenced to a minimum of 22-and-a-half years in prison for her murder.
Arturs Putrasevics, 39, was arrested last December after he entered a pharmacy in Coventry covered in blood, holding a knife, claiming he had killed someone.
Astra Sirapina was pronounced dead at her home in Burnaby Road last December after she was found with multiple stab wounds.
Enquiries led officers to Astra’s home in Burnaby Road, where they found her body with multiple stab wounds. Astra, who was 62, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Further investigations revealed Putrasevics, of no fixed address, knew Astra and where she lived, due to knowing a relative of hers.
After initially claiming to have killed someone, Putrasevics then refused to answer questions from detectives about Astra’s death, and continued to answer no comment to specific questions put to him during interview.
Despite that, he was subsequently charged with murder – which he then tried to deny by claiming diminished responsibility, a claim not supported in court following expert assessment.
Earlier this month he pleaded guilty to the murder of Astra, and possession of a bladed article.
At Coventry Crown Court, sitting in Warwickshire, he was sentenced to life in prison to serve a minimum of 22-and-a-half years.
Det Insp Ade George, who led the investigation, said: “This was a truly horrific attack on a vulnerable woman.
“We have tried our absolute best to get answers for Ms Sirapina’s loved ones, and although we may never truly know why Putrasevics did what he did, it is right that he has been convicted and sentenced for the crime of murder.
“This has been an unimaginably difficult time for Ms Sirapina’s family, and we have been in close contact with them throughout our investigation.
“Our thoughts remain with them following the sentencing.”
