Overview
- Jon Ismaili visited a property on Chesterton Road and left before a friend found 23-year-old Catalina Birlea unresponsive on October 2, 2025.
- He was convicted of murder at Cambridge Crown Court on June 26 and on Monday, June 29 received a life sentence with a reported minimum term of 17 to 18.5 years plus an additional three years for supplying drugs.
- The court heard a post-mortem found death by compression of the neck and that scratches on Birlea showed she had been fighting, with the judge saying at least a minute of strangulation proved intent to kill.
- Police said investigators used CCTV, DNA from clothing, the victim’s phone and facial recognition to identify and arrest Ismaili on October 5 after a three-day manhunt.
- Detective Inspector Mark Dollard urged sex workers to report violence and said the case underlines the risks faced by people in the sex industry, a point that could lead to greater police outreach and support.