A 16-year-old boy has described the moment he found out his mum had been murdered in a fireball attack by his own father.
Georgian Constantin, 42, doused his wife Valentina Cozma, 40, with petrol and set her on fire at her home in Campbell Road, Stoke.
By the time emergency services arrived, the kitchen was engulfed in flames and Valentina’s charred body was found under one of the windows.
Their only son, who is now in the care of social services, said he feels “blackness” when he thinks of the day his mum was murdered.
In a statement read out in court, he said: “I could not believe what was going on. I saw the police and firefighters. I got the impression that something bad had happened.”
He added: “All that came into my mind was ‘Where’s mum? Where’s dad?’ as I was watching the smoke come from the house. The police then took me away and got me some food.
“I thought ‘Why are they being so nice to me?’. They said they had found a body and she was about 40 – I knew it was my mum. I thought I was going to pass out.
“I’m not very good at explaining my feelings or talking about them, but what I can say is that I can’t remember how I felt hearing the news and when I think back it’s all black.”
Sharing his memories about his mother, he added: “I spent a lot of time with my mum. We did activities together.
“We sat and talked a lot, about all sorts of things, the future. She always said she wanted to save up to buy her own house and wanted to get her driving licence and me to get mine.
“I was able to talk to mum about personal things, like girls. She would open up to me too. She told me about her new boyfriend and that’s how close we were.
“Mum was always giving me hugs. Every day, she would hug me. I will never do that again. No one else can show me the love she did.
“I will never forget the love mum showed me but due to what my dad did this is gone forever. I miss everything about her.”
He explained: “My feelings towards my dad before this were similar to my mum. He didn’t ask me much about my day. As I grew I was a lot closer to my mum because dad didn’t seem interested.
“When everything happened I felt anger towards him. I was upset. Now I don’t know how to feel.
“At this moment I feel nothing for him. I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel. Nothing like this has ever happened to me. It’s all new. I have questions I want to ask him.”
He added: “I did have what I think was a panic attack as I was walking to college. An ambulance went past with its sirens on – all I could see was the ambulance, police and fire engines outside my house.
“I was looked after by mum and dad, but now I’m looked after by social services. I feel grateful I got to stay with my friend and her mum.
“I could not have anything back from the house. The police took me stuff from my bedroom that they could give back to me. It was all stained. They dry-cleaned my clothes but they still smell of smoke.
“I wanted them back because my mum bought them for me. I liked my bedroom and it made me very sad I could not go back to how it was.
“It felt weird living with another family although I was made very welcome. This can’t replace the family life with my mum or dad but I’m glad I’ve been looked after in this way.
“Mum’s family is in Romania so before I never had much to do with them. Since mum died, I have had a lot more contact with my family and talk regularly. I go on holiday to see them. I am lucky to have such good friends look out for me.
“This is completely different to what I expected before mum died. I will need support and guidance about the big decisions I will have to make. I have a foster carer who is always helpful but it’s not same as my mum.
“There’s a lot of confusion for me about everything. Most people my age don’t need to think about all these things. I feel like I was forced to grow up before my time.”
Georgian Constantin was arrested five days after Valentina’s murder. He tried to blame Valentina for her own murder.
Constantin, of Hartshill Road in Stoke, showed no emotion as he was found guilty of murdering 40-year-old Valentina and threatening to kill her new boyfriend, Dita Costell.
He must serve 28 years in prison before being considered for parole.
