A couple who drugged an 80-year-old Gloucestershire man, Malcolm King, causing his death and stealing his Rolex watch, have been sentenced to 17 years in prison each at Oxford Crown Court. Malcolm King, from near Cirencester, died in August 2024 after being spiked with a potent sedative by Adina Mihai, 31, and Madalin Dumitru, 30, who later pleaded guilty to manslaughter in relation to his death and that of another victim, Gary Mouat, 36.
Mr King’s daughter, Caroline King, spoke in court about her complicated relationship with her father, citing years of difficulty following her parents' separation. She expressed deep sorrow over lost opportunities for reconciliation, stating, “They stole the future that both he and I still had the possibility of writing together.”
She further said, “Despite everything, I never stopped hoping that one day we would find our way back to each other. The defendants did not simply unlawfully take my father’s life. They took away every conversation we will now never have, every opportunity to understand one another and every chance to make peace with our past.”
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Caroline reflected on the impact of her father’s death, highlighting the loss of potential healing and connection between them. She remarked, “The hardest part is living with the relationship we will now never have. When my father was killed, the defendants did not only end his future. They stole mine as well.”
Mr King’s sister, Jacky Seagroatt, described her brother as a generous man who maintained close family ties and provided her with support during her own personal tragedies. Reflecting on his passing, she shared the profound grief and distress caused by the manner of his death, emphasising how the unlawful circumstances have compounded her loss.
During sentencing, Mrs Justice Brunner noted the defendants’ intention to render their victims unconscious using varying doses of sedatives, acknowledging the high risk of serious injury or death involved. She highlighted the careless administration of these drugs and the defendants' failure to appreciate the risks, stating that the toxicity of the drug GBL should have been obvious to them with basic research.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Charles White praised the thorough police investigation, which tracked the couple’s movements and linked them conclusively to the crimes through forensic evidence. He described the case as unique and complex due to the scientific matters involved but affirmed the justice achieved.
Mr White offered his condolences to the victims’ families and expressed hope that the sentences would provide some measure of comfort following this tragic case.