A homeless man thought he’d gotten away with murder after killing a woman who kindly offered him a place to stay in her home. Cops raced to Coulter Road, Hammersmith, at about 10.13pm on February 9 to reports that a man was trying to force entry into a flat.
Upon arrival they found Victoria Adams, 36, face down in her room with a bin bag over her head, having been bludgeoned at least 10 times on the back of her head by a mallet. Apapale Adoum, 39, of no fixed address, had been taken in by Ms Adams but had been asked to leave.
He was arrested at the scene before he was initially charged with two counts of possession of an offensive weapon. He pleaded guilty to the offences at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 11, and was sentenced to 42 weeks in prison.
But forensic analysis retrospectively linked Adoum to the death. He was re-arrested on Thursday, June 5, on suspicion of murder and was charged on Friday, June 6. Adoum pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, August 26, and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, October 24.
‘It is a tragedy after a show of kindness during a time of need’
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Denby, who led the investigation said: “I hope that Adoum’s admission of guilt is a small reprieve for Victoria’s family and friends. It is a tragedy that she was killed by Adoum after offering him a place to stay and showing him kindness during his time of need. Victoria deserved better.
“Adoum’s plea is testament to the officers who worked incredibly hard to build the evidence against him, leaving no doubt he was responsible for Victoria’s death.”
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