A handyman has been jailed for killing a “much-loved” and vulnerable retired nurse during a burglary in south London.
Hugo Da Silva Pires, 29, overpowered church leader Nelly Akomah, 76, in her home and made off with her phone, purse, electronics and bible late on June 20, 2023.
Ms Akomah was found dead at the property in Ladbrook Road, Croydon, south London, the next day.
Portuguese national Da Silva Pires knew she lived alone as he had recently fitted a kitchen for her and even attended the address earlier that day to help her register some appliances.
During the burglary, he violently attacked Ms Akomah which resulted in her falling down the stairs before he walked over her lifeless body with her handbag.
An initial post-mortem examination found she had suffered a fractured larynx and two broken ribs.
Da Silva Pires was caught on CCTV using Ms Akomah’s bank card to buy smartphones, children’s bedding and power tools.
His DNA was also found under her fingernails as she tried to fight back.
Da Silva Pires and his girlfriend Catia Feliciano, 33, both of Fernham Road, Thornton Heath, were arrested at Stansted Airport as they attempted to flee the country three days later.
At Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, he was sentenced to 12 years for manslaughter, burglary and fraud. Feliciano got two years having pleaded guilty to fraud and perverting the course of justice.
In a statement, Ms Akomah’s family said: “The past 17 months have been an unimaginable ordeal for us. We have endured grief, heartbreak, and the long process of seeking justice.
“We want to thank the police and everyone who worked so hard to ensure that Nelly's voice was heard.
“No punishment can ever bring our mother, grandmother, sister, friend and mentor Nelly back, or fill the void her absence has left in our lives.
“Nelly found joy in serving and helping those around her. A church leader with a 30 plus year nursing career, she cherished her life, her faith and her family and friends.
“Hugo Da Silva Pires is a heartless individual. He deliberately preyed on an elderly woman who trusted him in her home as a tradesman.”
The killer tried to cover his tracks by cutting the wires to the CCTV system installed at Ms Akomah’s address.
Da Silva Pires also got rid of his mobile phone, which Feliciano, helped him to do.
At the time of his arrest, he had scratches to his face and neck.
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, from the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “The circumstances of Nelly’s death are truly devastating. Nelly was well loved and highly respected in her community, she was a retired nurse and a treasurer for Tooting Methodist Church.
“She was an extraordinary mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, leader and friend to many, and she is dearly missed by all who knew her.
“Da Silva Pires crept into Nelly’s home at night, whilst he knew she was upstairs and awake.
“He intended on stealing from her at any cost. Nelly was an elderly woman of small stature, who had only ever showed him kindness and trust.
“Instead of fleeing when he was discovered by Nelly, he violently confronted her which resulted in her falling down the stairs and sadly dying.
“Da Silva Pires didn’t try to help Nelly, he instead walked over her lifeless body on the stairs and left the house with her handbag.
“Da Silva Pires is an abhorrent man, whose greed and desire to escape responsibility for his actions, resulted in him killing Nelly.”
