British police identify woman, mother, stabbed to death in London

British authorities have identified a woman from Latvia who was found stabbed to death on an East London street, as well as her mother, whose body was found in their burning home.

Meanwhile, a man who was reportedly the woman’s estranged husband was also found in the home and taken to a hospital, where his condition is listed as stable. He has been placed under arrest, according to the Metropolitan Police of London.

The woman has been identified as 40-year-old Svetlana Zolotovska, according to an Aug. 16 Metropolitan Police press release. She was found on Stansfield Road the morning of Aug. 12 with stab wounds to the neck, chest and abdomen. Zolotovska was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her mother, 70-year-old Antonia Belska, was found on the ground floor of their burning home on Leamouth Road after officers were led to the address upon making inquiries, according to the Metropolitan Police. Belska died from stab wounds to the chest and abdomen.

A search of the home found a 42-year-old man, identified in British media reports as Zolotovska’s estranged husband Sergei Zolotovsky, in the loft area of the home. He had numerous injuries and had apparently attempted suicide.

Zolotovsky, a self-employed engineer originally from Latvia, has been reported to authorities at least four times over domestic disturbances, British media reported.

The couple was going through divorce proceedings, but were in a dispute over the house, according to British media reports.

The Zolotovskys had moved to the United Kingdom eight years ago, British media reported. Belska had arrived three months ago to stay with her daughter, police said.

Police are continuing their investigation and are asking for the public’s assistance.

“We know the younger victim left her address in east London at 07:20 hours to walk to work,” Detective Chief Inspector Phil Rickells said. “She was attacked at the bus stop in Stansfeld Road. We have traced several witnesses but would like to speak to anyone who may have been in the area at that time.”

A pair of Metropolitan Police officers have traveled to Latvia to pursue the investigation, according to London’s Evening Standard newspaper.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

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