Croydon roofer jailed for life for stabbing girlfriend to death while ranting about 'drinking blood'

CROYDON ROOFER JAILED FOR LIFE FOR STABBING GIRLFRIEND TO DEATH WHILE RANTING ABOUT 'DRINKING BLOOD'

A man named Ivan Griffin, aged 24, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Sabrina Mullings, aged 38, in her home in Upper Norwood, Croydon.

Griffin claimed he was mentally ill at the time, but the jury at the Old Bailey rejected his explanation and found him guilty of murder after deliberating over two days.

Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC stated that Griffin had shown no remorse and sentenced him to a minimum of 16 and a half years in prison.

The court heard that Mullings suffered two stab wounds to her stomach and chest, and although she had a weak pulse, she was minutes from death.

Griffin told witnesses that he stabbed her because he loved her and stabbed himself to "join their blood together." He appeared for sentencing via video from Belmarsh prison, having declined to come to court.

Griffin had a previous conviction for assaulting a former girlfriend, who described him as controlling and aggressive.

Prosecutors argued that his attempt to claim mental illness was a disguise, and he did not develop a sudden mental health condition prior to the killing.

Witnesses testified that Griffin and Ms Mullings appeared to be in love and planning a future together, with photos showing them dancing just 12 hours before her murder.

On the day of the attack, her daughter Hayleigh and her boyfriend Chaise Gore witnessed Griffin shouting 'releasing demons' and 'drinking blood' as he attacked her.

Griffin was seen walking around wearing only a jacket afterward, with superficial wounds, and he was later arrested.

He was also found to have a controlling and aggressive personality based on his prior convictions.

The court rejected any suggestion that he was mentally ill at the time of the murder, suggesting instead that he sought to use mental illness as a partial excuse for his actions.