East London Handyman Accused of Murdering Customer Over £2,100 Dispute
A handyman from east London has been accused of murdering and robbing a customer who had taken him to small claims court over a payment dispute of just over £2,000, a crown court heard this week.
Brutal Attack Following Legal Notification
Dorin Ciorba, 29, of Barking, allegedly travelled to 62-year-old Osaretin Oronsaye's flat in Dartford on July 5, 2025, just one day after receiving an email about the small claims court case against him. The prosecution told Maidstone Crown Court that Ciorba spent approximately thirty minutes in the flat, during which time he is alleged to have carried out a vicious attack.
The court heard that Mr Oronsaye was stabbed in the jugular with scissors, manually strangled, and had cable ties tightened around his neck. He was also struck on the head with what is believed to have been an electric radiator found in the room. The victim's wife discovered him later that evening under a duvet in the en-suite bathroom, lying in a significant pool of blood.
Initial Investigation and Subsequent Charges
Initially, police did not treat the death as suspicious. However, a post-mortem examination revealed the extent of the injuries, leading to Ciorba being charged with murder two weeks after the incident. He also faces a charge of robbery, having allegedly taken Mr Oronsaye's wallet, keys, and phone from the flat and subsequently using his bank accounts.
Prosecutor Dominic Connolly outlined the Crown's case, stating that the dispute arose from maintenance work Ciorba had carried out for Mr Oronsaye. "You will hear how that work gave rise to a dispute between the two men," he told the jury. The deceased, who owned a window cleaning business, had commenced proceedings at Dartford County Court to reclaim approximately £2,100 he believed he was owed.
Evidence Presented to the Jury
Jurors were shown compelling evidence, including:
- CCTV footage of Ciorba cycling to the victim's address wearing distinctive clothing, including a white hooded top and black gloves.
- Footage showing him leaving the location almost exactly half an hour later in different attire, before boarding a train to London.
- Recovery of a balaclava from Ciorba's address containing Mr Oronsaye's DNA.
- Discovery of cable ties, the victim's car keys, bank cards, and papers relating to the small claims proceedings during a search of Ciorba's home on July 17, 2025.
The prosecution also highlighted that Ciorba conducted internet searches for "Dartford murder" on July 8, while police were still treating the death as a potential suicide. "Here we see Mr Ciorba doing a Google search to see if there's any report of a murder... in the absence of such a report it appears he feels safe to use Mr Oronsaye's bank cards," Mr Connolly stated.
Background to the Dispute and Defence Case
The court heard that Ciorba had first worked for Mr Oronsaye and his wife as a painter in 2023 and was contracted again in April 2025 for bedroom and bathroom work. A payment issue arose when Mr Oronsaye paid upfront, expecting to claim on insurance, but the insurance company sent the money directly to Ciorba, resulting in what the victim believed was a double payment.
Texts and calls presented in court showed Mr Oronsaye attempting to recover the money before initiating the small claims court claim for £2,158.
Ciorba denies both murder and robbery charges. His defence claims that he visited the flat to complete a decorating job and that Mr Oronsaye propositioned him for sex to settle the debt. The defence alleges that Ciorba shoved Mr Oronsaye, causing him to fall and hit his head, but did not carry out any further attack.
The trial continues at Maidstone Crown Court.
