West London Woman, 35, Warned Mother of ‘Danger’ Hours Before Alleged Murder by Ex-Partner, Court Hears

Tragic Circumstances Surrounding Vivienne Baraka’s Death

Just hours before her tragic death, Vivienne Baraka, 35, reached out to her mother with a desperate message stating that she was “in danger”. This revelation was presented in court as her former partner, Alvin Gitahi, 44, faces trial for her murder. The incident occurred on March 26, 2024, when Ms Baraka was found deceased in her home, having been the only other individual present at the time of her death.

The prosecution has alleged that Gitahi brutally assaulted and strangled Ms Baraka within the confines of her own home. Notably, he had previously issued threats to her life, declaring, “I will finish you”. The discovery of Ms Baraka’s body on the bathroom floor in Ealing, west London, revealed significant evidence of violence, including bruising on her face and neck, as well as burst blood vessels in her eyes.

Pattern of Abuse and Threats

During the proceedings at Southwark Crown Court, Prosecutor Charlotte Newell KC detailed a troubling history of abuse that Ms Baraka had endured. Known affectionately as Viv by her friends and family, she had confided in both her mother and the police regarding Gitahi’s violent behaviour. Newell recounted that the relationship had been fraught with conflict, with Ms Baraka having reported incidents of violence to the authorities in both 2022 and 2023. These incidents reportedly included physical assaults while Gitahi was under the influence of alcohol, which ranged from punching to strangling.

On the day of her demise, Ms Baraka’s mother, Nancy, received a concerning text from her daughter that afternoon. It indicated that Ms Baraka felt unsafe in her own home and implored Nancy to contact emergency services. This plea was particularly haunting, suggesting that she was afraid to make the call herself and needed her mother’s assistance to alert the police.

Police Response and Findings

A 999 call was initiated by Nancy at 3:14 PM, and upon the arrival of police officers approximately twenty minutes later, Gitahi eventually permitted them entry into the property. Tragically, they found Ms Baraka collapsed and unresponsive on the bathroom floor. The evidence presented in court confirmed that she had communicated to her mother about ongoing abuse by Gitahi, expressing her fear that he would ultimately kill her if she attempted to leave him or involve the authorities.

Details emerged in court revealing that Ms Baraka had previously reported incidents of violence to the police, including an episode in January 2022 where she was discovered “cowering” in her bathroom. She recounted harrowing experiences of being punched and strangled, particularly during moments when Gitahi had been drinking. During one such incident, she had managed to retreat to the bathroom, convinced that Gitahi was about to choke her, only for him to remove the door handle to keep her from escaping.

Conflicting Narratives and Ongoing Trial

In August 2022, Ms Baraka disclosed to her mother that she had been punched in the eye, while in April 2023, her mother overheard a distressing altercation where Ms Baraka was heard pleading with Gitahi not to strangle her. When the police were called, they found a visibly distressed Ms Baraka reiterating her claims of being strangled by Gitahi.

After the tragic discovery of Ms Baraka’s body, Gitahi provided a statement to the police suggesting that she had been under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of her death. However, forensic tests later indicated that she only had a minimal level of alcohol in her system and no drugs present. The prosecutor highlighted that Gitahi has made no claims of self-defence, maintaining that he had not assaulted Ms Baraka or played any role in her death.

As the trial progresses, the chilling details surrounding this case continue to unfold, leaving a community grappling with the impact of domestic violence and the tragic loss of a young woman.