A homeless man has pleaded guilty to murdering a woman who offered him shelter in her London flat. Apapale Adoum, 39, admitted bludgeoning Victoria Adams, 37, to death with a mallet just days after she took him in.
Adams was found dead at her Hammersmith flat on February 9 after police responded to reports of a man trying to break into the property in Coulter Road. She was discovered face down in a bedroom with a black bin bag over her head, covered by a pillow.
The victim had suffered at least 10 separate injuries to the back and side of her head from being struck with a blunt object. A mallet found at the scene contained her blood and DNA.
Tragic betrayal of kindness
Adams had met Adoum on February 6 when he was staying at a homeless shelter. She invited him to stay with her but later wrote a note asking him to leave.
Metro reports that witnesses heard screams in the middle of the night days before the body was discovered. The defendant also submitted a document to court containing derogatory comments about the victim.
Court proceedings
Adoum appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to murder. Judge Nigel Lickley KC told the defendant: "The sentence for murder is a life sentence and that is what I will pass on October 24."
The defendant was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing. The Mirror reports the property was valued at £1.3 million, highlighting the generous nature of Adams' offer to help a stranger in need.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Independent", "Metro", "Evening Standard", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
