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Homeless man admits to murdering woman after she took him in

Apapale Adoum has pleaded guilty to murdering Victoria Adams in her London flat

Emily Pennink
Tuesday 26 August 2025 10:02 EDT
The scene in Coulter Road, Hammersmith, west London
The scene in Coulter Road, Hammersmith, west London (PA)

A homeless man accused of battering a woman to death with a mallet has pleaded guilty to her murder.

Victoria Adams, 37, was found dead at her flat in Hammersmith, west London, on February 9.

The discovery was made after police were called to a report of a man attempting to break into the property on Coulter Road.

She was found face down in a bedroom with a black bin bag over her head, which was covered by a pillow.

She was found dead at her flat in Hammersmith, west London, on February 9
She was found dead at her flat in Hammersmith, west London, on February 9 (PA)

Ms Adams had suffered at least 10 separate injuries to the back and side of the head from being struck with a blunt object, said to be a mallet found with her blood and DNA on it.

Her attacker, Apapale Adoum, 39, who was arrested at the scene, had met her on February 6 when he was living in a homeless shelter.

She had invited him to stay with her, but later wrote a note to ask him to leave.

On Tuesday, Adoum appeared at the Old Bailey and pleaded guilty to murder.

Adjourning sentencing, 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.

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