London tragedy: Man kills woman who offered him shelter, pleads guilty

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

A 39-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the murder of Victoria Adams, 36, in Hammersmith, following a Metropolitan Police investigation.

Apapale Adoum, of no fixed address, admitted at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 26 August, that he killed Ms Adams earlier this year.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Denby, who led the case, described the killing as a “tragedy,” noting that Ms Adams had shown kindness by offering Adoum a place to stay.

“Victoria deserved better,” he said, adding that Adoum’s guilty plea reflects the strength of evidence gathered by detectives, which left no doubt over his responsibility.

Police were first called to Coulter Road at 22:13hrs on 9 February after reports of a man forcing entry into a flat. Officers discovered Ms Adams’s body inside; she had suffered a fatal head injury.

Adoum was arrested at the scene and initially charged with possession of offensive weapons. He was sentenced to 42 weeks in prison after admitting those charges in February.

However, a detailed forensic investigation subsequently linked him to Ms Adams’s death. He was re-arrested on 5 June and charged with murder the following day.

Adoum is due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, 24 October.