Romanian Man Arrested Over 2013 Bosham Murder of Valerie Graves
A breakthrough in the long-unsolved murder of Valerie Graves has come after a man was arrested in Romania. The 55-year-old mother and grandmother was found brutally killed in her Bosham bedroom on December 30, 2013, while house-sitting.
Arrest Made in Romania
Romanian national Cristian Sabou, 28, was arrested on July 10 at his home in Dej by Romanian police acting on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the UK. Sabou now faces extradition proceedings in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, as British authorities push for his return to stand trial.
UK and Romanian Police Join Forces
Detectives from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team flew to Romania to work alongside Romanian law enforcement including the General Police Inspectorate in Bucharest and the Criminal Investigation Service in Cluj. Detective Chief Inspector Jon Fanner called the arrest “a major development in the case.”
“We have worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Crime Agency network overseas to secure this arrest,” he said. “Valerie’s family have been kept informed but are not commenting publicly at this time.”
Next Steps: Extradition and Trial
Sabou is expected to appear in court in Cluj-Napoca soon, though the exact date is yet to be confirmed. If Romanian courts approve, he will be sent back to the UK to face charges in relation to Valerie Graves’s murder, bringing the family closer to justice after nearly a decade.
Detective Fanner ended with a firm message: “Now that legal proceedings are active, we cannot disclose further details. But this is a vital step forward in holding the perpetrator accountable.”
