Woman tortured and battered to death by ‘sadistic’ trio, court told

Woman Tortured and Murdered by Sadistic Trio, Court Hears

A woman was tortured, starved, battered to death, and left to rot by three “sadistic” individuals, according to a court hearing. The case highlights the urgent need to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

Background

• Victim: Shakira Spencer
• Accused: Ashana Studholme, Shaun Pendlebury, and Lisa Richardson

Shakira Spencer, 35, allegedly fell under the influence of her former neighbor Ashana Studholme, 38, Studholme’s lover Shaun Pendlebury, 26, and their friend Lisa Richardson, 44, leading to her tragic death. The court heard that Spencer was treated like a slave, enduring scalding on her feet and being fed only ketchup from sachets. She went from being a “beautiful, happy, healthy” size 16 to a “gaunt and skeletal” size six shortly before her death. Her badly decomposed body was discovered in September after neighbors noticed maggots coming from her flat in Ealing, West London.

The Charges

• Murder
• Preventing lawful burial

Pendlebury, Richardson, and Studholme are accused of murder and preventing the lawful burial of Ms. Spencer.

The Prosecution’s Case

Prosecutor Allison Hunter KC described the defendants’ actions as unfathomable, cruel, and sadistic. She stated that they tormented, tortured, starved, burned, and eventually battered Shakira Spencer to death. The prosecution argued that after meeting the defendants, Ms. Spencer was subdued and dominated, mainly by Studholme and Richardson, to the point where she was under their complete control.

Isolation and Abuse

Over several months, Ms. Spencer was allegedly isolated from everyone she knew, forced into prostitution, and robbed of her self-respect and finances. She was subjected to physical abuse and made to clean the defendants’ houses and run errands for them.

Physical Decline

Ms. Hunter highlighted the drastic physical decline of Shakira Spencer. In early 2021, she was a healthy size 16, weighing approximately 74kgs (11st 9lb). However, by July 2022, she had become gaunt, skeletal, and bruised all over her body. Images taken by the defendants shortly before her death showed her as barely a scrawny size six.

The Final Assault

The abuse reached a frenzied climax on September 11 and 12, 2022, when Ms. Spencer was beaten to the brink of death at Studholme’s home. She was then locked in a hallway cupboard after being transported in the boot of Pendlebury’s borrowed Honda Civic car.

Discovery of the Body

Neighbors alerted the police after seeing maggots crawling out from under Ms. Spencer’s door on September 25, 2022. The subsequent investigation revealed the horrifying details of what the defendants had done.

Attempts to Conceal the Crime

The defendants allegedly tried to remove all traces of their presence from Ms. Spencer’s flat and eliminate her blood, bodily fluids, and DNA from their own homes. They even placed ice around her body to slow decomposition and laid newspapers on the floor next to the bed to create the impression that she had died peacefully in her sleep.

Post-Mortem Examination

Due to the poor condition of Ms. Spencer’s body, a pathologist was unable to determine the exact cause of death. However, the post-mortem examination revealed crushing injuries to her ear, cuts to her scalp, and scalding wounds on her feet.

Denial of Charges

Shaun Pendlebury, Lisa Richardson, and Ashana Studholme, all from different areas of London, deny the charges against them. The trial is ongoing.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio
   • Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age
   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

   The article discusses the torture, starvation, and eventual death of Shakira Spencer. The targets under SDG 3 related to reducing preventable deaths and promoting well-being are relevant in this case.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres
   • Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation

   The article mentions that Shakira Spencer was treated like a slave and subjected to torture and abuse. The targets under SDG 5 related to eliminating violence against women and harmful practices are relevant in this case.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children

   The article highlights the sadistic torture and eventual death of Shakira Spencer. The targets under SDG 16 related to reducing violence and ensuring justice are relevant in this case.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: independent.co.uk

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