Fire death suspect detained in London after police appeal
Staffordshire Police said Romanian national Georgian Constantin was arrested in London in connection with the death of his former partner.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Detectives have arrested a 42-year-old man who was named by police as a suspect after his ex-wife died in a house fire.
Georgian Constantin, of Stoke-on-Trent, was detained in London on Tuesday morning on suspicion of murder, Staffordshire Police said.
Constantin’s former partner Valentina Cozma, aged 40, died after a blaze at her home on Campbell Road, Stoke-on-Trent, last Thursday.
A post-mortem examination provided a provisional cause of death as smoke inhalation.
Detective Inspector Adrian Webb, of Staffordshire’s Major and Organised Crime department, is appealing for anyone with information to come forward and help with the investigation.
The senior officer said: “We are grateful for the community’s support during this investigation.
“Inquiries into Valentina’s tragic death continue and we remain keen to speak to witnesses who may have relevant information or material which could support the investigation, such as CCTV or dash cam footage.
“My thoughts remain with Valentina’s loved ones, in particular her young son, at this deeply traumatic time.”