West Kensington Woman Charged With Attack on Michael Winner's Widow
Victim tied up and blindfolded during robbery
Geraldine and Michael Winner
A woman from West Kensington has appeared in court charged with robbing Geraldine Winner in 2015.
48-year-old Gurgana Geuorgoieva, of Russell Road was arrested on Thursday, 6 June and was charged with one count of robbery on Friday 7 June.
The case achieved national attention and featured in an appeal on Crimewatch. The 77-year-old widow of the film director was set upon when she was putting out the bins at 10.30pm on Friday 9 October 2015.
Her lone female assailant met her on the doorstep brandishing a weapon and forced her back into her home in Ennismore Gardens, Kensington. She then bound and gagged her and ransacked her home making off with cash, items of jewellery including a heart-shaped diamond pendant and a painting of St Mark's Basilica in Venice by Franz Richard Unterburger.
Mrs Winner sustained serious head wounds and a broken finger. She said that she felt uncomfortable in her own home following the attack but, "They can take my possessions but they cannot take my memories."
Det Ch Insp Jane Corrigan, from Westminster CID, said at the time of the attack, " I have never seen an attack of this nature committed by a lone female throughout my policing career.
Her assailant was captured on CCTV entering the flat earlier than evening and later on Kensington High Street. A £10,000 award was issued and the CCTV footage was broadcast on BBC’s Crimewatch.
Geuorgoieva has been remanded to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 8 June.