‘A senseless tragedy that could have been prevented’: Twin sister’s tribute to Brigitta Rasuli

The twin sister of Brigitta Rasuli – who was killed by her husband in an attack in February – has paid tribute to her and decried the ‘preventable’ and ‘senseless’ tragedy of her death.

A ‘devoted mother, daughter and sister’, Brigitta died of asphyxiation aged 53, after being attacked by her husband in their Slough home.

Her husband Samir Rasuli, 58, had ‘chronic and profound’ mental health problems. After killing Brigitta, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.

At a sentencing hearing on Thursday, he was given a hospital order rather than a prison sentence, which the presiding judge felt was the only ‘appropriate’ course of action.

The court heard that Mr Rasuli was suffering from severe paranoid delusions and obsessions. He was fixated on the idea that Brigitta was being unfaithful to him.

These delusional obsessions had been going on for more than 10 years, since 2014.

At the time of Brigitta’s attack, Rasuli was ‘totally detached from reality’ and mental health professionals could not bring him out of his delusion.

Rasuli had been waiting for help from the NHS for a while – and shortly before attacking Brigitta, had recently switched to private practice to speed up the process.

His first treatment appointment was due shortly after the attack – which the judge said made it ‘all the more tragic’.

Brigitta’s twin, Timea, has since paid tribute to her beloved sister, saying her whole family are ‘the real victims of the story.’

“She was a loving, caring person, who deserved a decent family life that she had always wished for,” Timea said.

“I am saddened that it has not been taken into consideration fully that a human life has been taken – a life of a devoted mother, daughter and sister. That is the saddest part of all.

She continued: “Being twins, Brigi and I were very close, and a part of me died with her on that tragic day. Nothing will ever fill the void that she has left behind.

“What happened to her is a senseless tragedy that could have been prevented.

“May my dear sister rest in peace. All the members of her family in Hungary will keep her in our hearts forever.”