Shakira Spencer (13 June 1987 – September 2022) was a 35-year-old mother-of-two from Ealing, west London, who was tortured, beaten and ultimately murdered by Ashana Studholme, Lisa Richardson and Shaun Pendlebury, who she considered to be her friends. On 12 September 2022, the trio left Spencer's body in her flat where her badly decomposed body was discovered by police two weeks later after neighbours noted maggots crawling out of her front door.

Following a 12-week trial, the trio were found guilty of her murder in December 2023 and subsequently sentenced to life with a minimum of 34 years in February 2024.

Background

Born on 13 June 1987,[1] Spencer was described by neighbours as "a loveable person, but very slow and socially awkward who presented as someone with learning difficulties". She was befriended by Ashana Studholme in 2021 when Studholme became her neighbour. After drawing Spencer into her social circle, which included introducing her to drugs, and isolating her from everyone she had previously known, Studholme and two accomplices, her friend Lisa Richardson and former boyfriend Shaun Pendlebury, subjected Spencer to several months of abuse, which included torture and beatings. Spencer was also treated like a slave by the trio, who forced her to run errands, controlled her income, and fed her on sachets of ketchup. The abuse culminated on 12 September 2022, when Spencer was beaten "to the brink of death" at Studholme's flat, then driven home by Studholme and Pendlebury in the boot of Studholme's car, where she was locked in a hall cupboard and later died as a result of her injuries. Her badly decomposed body was discovered almost two weeks later, on 25 September, when neighbours reported seeing maggots crawling from under the front door of Spencer's flat. Investigators were unable to determine the exact time of death.[2][3]

Arrest and trial

Studholme, Richardson and Pendlebury were arrested the following day after police were contacted by a relative of Pendlebury's to whom he had confessed his role in the killing.[4] The three were charged with Spencer's murder three days later.[5] Three days later, following the discovery of text messages and mobile phone recordings showing Spencer being beaten by the trio, they were charged with her murder.[6] On 30 September, all three defendants appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court, where they were remanded in custody. They plead not-guilty on 20 December, and a trial date was set the following year for 4 September 2023.[7]

Following a 12-week trial at the Old Bailey, Studholme, Richardson and Pendlebury were convicted of Spencer's murder on 11 December 2023.[4] Following the trial, Ealing Borough Council said it had launched an Adult Safeguarding Review of the case.[2][3] In February 2024, Studholme, Richardson and Pendlebury were each sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 34 years. In her sentencing statement, Judge Angela Rafferty told the trio they had shown no remorse for their actions and their only concern was for themselves.[8] All three will become eligible for parole on 25 May 2056.[9][10][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bennett, Ella (7 October 2022). "Mum's body 'so badly decomposed' she had to be identified by dental records". My London. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b Kelly, June; Dackevych, Alex; Burns, Judith; Puri, Naresh (11 December 2023). "Shakira Spencer: Three convicted of torture murder of mother of two". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Grierson, Jamie (11 December 2023). "Shakira Spencer: three found guilty of murdering woman 'treated like a slave'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Three people convicted after detectives piece together evidence to prove their role in murder". Metropolitan Police. 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  5. ^ Smith, Matt (2 October 2022). "Three charged in Ealing with murder of Shakira Spencer". Chiswick Calendar. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Three guilty of murdering woman who was 'treated like a slave' and fed only sachets of ketchup". Sky News. 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Three appear in London court over fatal torture of vulnerable woman". The Guardian. 4 October 2022. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  8. ^ Kelly, June (1 March 2024). "Shakira Spencer: Three people sentenced to life for torture murder". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Criminal sentence – Ashana Studholme – Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey)". The Law Pages. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Criminal sentence – Lisa Richardson – Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey)". The Law Pages. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Criminal sentence – Shaun Pendlebury – Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey)". The Law Pages. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
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