Man Locked Up for 40 Years Over Brutal Second London Murder
A convicted killer has been handed a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years behind bars for a chilling second murder in north London. Kasim Lewis, 32, admitted to stabbing/" title="Stabbing" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">stabbing Catherine Burke to death in her home back in November 2017. The sentencing took place today, Thursday 18 July, at the Old Bailey.
Double Killer’s Bloody Trail in Muswell Hill
Lewis is already serving a minimum 29-year sentence for murdering another woman, Iuliana Tudos, just six weeks after Catherine’s death. Both sentences will run concurrently, meaning he won’t be up for parole until he’s 72.
Police were called to Catherine’s home in Hill Road, Muswell Hill, at 7:03pm on 16 November 2017 after friends and neighbours grew worried about her silence. Despite efforts to reach her by phone and banging on the door, no one answered. Even Catherine’s dog was heard crying.
A neighbour even climbed a ladder to check through the window and spotted signs something was amiss. Officers and paramedics were soon on the scene, where Catherine was found dead in a back bedroom, her body partially concealed under clothes.
Forensic Evidence Seals Kasim Lewis’s Fate
Lewis was arrested in January 2018 on suspicion of both murders. Police found Catherine’s stolen phone and a Kindle tablet belonging to her son during a search at a former friend’s property. Forensic tests on a pair of trousers linked Lewis to the killer beyond doubt, with DNA evidence so overwhelming it ruled out anyone else.
In police interviews, Lewis stayed silent over Catherine’s murder, unlike when he confessed to killing Iuliana shortly after his arrest.
Detectives Reveal Horrific Motives and Crime Scenes
Detectives suspect both killings were sexually motivated due to the nature of the attacks, though no sexual assault was proven. Both women were stabbed multiple times in savage, prolonged attacks. Lewis was charged earlier this year with Catherine’s murder.
Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin said: “We still do not know why Lewis committed these horrific murders. He has never expressed any motive. These brutal crimes have devastated the Burke and Tudos families. We hope today’s verdict brings them some closure.”
“Cathy was a beloved member of her community. Her friends noticed her silence and grew worried quickly. The scene at her home was harrowing.”
“Lewis then killed Iuliana six weeks later in another horrifying attack. Our homicide team worked tirelessly, linking the cases early and securing strong evidence that led to Lewis’s guilty pleas.”
“Thankfully, crimes of this nature remain extremely rare.”
Son’s Heartbreaking Tribute to His Late Mother
Niall Galbally, 22, son of Catherine Burke, said: “16 November 2017 is the day my life shattered. At university 70 miles away, I got a call with the worst news — my mum had been found dead.”
“Hearing the police treat it as a murder turned nightmare into reality. Growing up in London, I knew about violence… but never imagined it would hit my own family.”
“My relationship with mum had just blossomed. She had finally accepted me as a man. Lewis’s wicked act robbed me of that future. No justice can fill the hole he left in my heart.”
“At least the man responsible has been caught. This marks the end of a terrible chapter, and the start of trying to move on.”
