Murder of Shakira Spencer

Shakira Spencer (13 June 1987 – September 2022) was a 35-year-old mother-of-two from Ealing, west London, who was tortured and murdered by three people she considered to be her friends. Spencer, who was considered to be a vulnerable adult, was befriended, then abused by Ashana Studholme, Lisa Richardson and Shaun Pendlebury, after Studholme moved into a neighbouring property in 2021. On 11 December 2023, and following a 12-week trial, the trio, who left Spencer's body to decompose in her flat after beating her "to the brink of death", were convicted of her murder, as well as preventing the lawful burial of a body.

Background
Born on 13 June 1987, Spencer was described by neighbours as "a loveable person, but very slow and socially awkward who presented as someone with learning difficulties". She was befriended by Ashana Studholme in 2015 when Studholme became her neighbour. After drawing Spencer into her social circle, which included introducing her to drugs, and isolating her from everyone she had previously known, Studholme and two accomplices, her friend Lisa Richardson and former boyfriend Shaun Pendlebury, subjected Spencer to several months of abuse, which included torture and beatings. Spencer was also treated like a slave by the trio, who forced her to run errands, controlled her income, and fed her on sachets of ketchup. The abuse culminated on 12 September 2022, when Spencer was beaten "to the brink of death" at Studholme's flat, then driven home by Studholme and Pendlebury in the boot of Studholme's car, where she was locked in a hall cupboard and later died as a result of her injuries. Her badly decomposed body was discovered almost two weeks later, on 25 September, when neighbours reported seeing maggots crawling from under the front door of Spencer's flat. Investigators were unable to determine the exact time of death.

Arrest and trial
The trio was arrested on 26 September, and charged with Spencer's murder three days later. The arrests occurred after police were contacted by a relative of Pendlebury's to whom he had confessed his role in the killing. Detectives then found evidence, including text messages referencing the abuse and mobile phone images and footage showing Spencer being beaten by her tormentors. On 30 September, all three defendants appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court, where they were remanded in custody to appear before the Old Bailey on 4 October. At this hearing, they were further remanded, with a plea hearing set for 20 December, and a trial date set for 4 September 2023.

Following a 12-week trial at the Old Bailey, where they pleaded "not guilty" to the charges, Studholme, Richardson and Pendlebury were convicted of Spencer's murder on 11 December 2023. Prosecutor Alison Hunter KC compared them to "a pack of feral savages". Following the trial, Ealing Borough Council said it had launched an Adult Safeguarding Review of the case. At an Old Bailey hearing on 1 March 2024, Studholme, Richardson and Pendlebury were each sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 34 years. In her sentencing statement, Judge Angela Rafferty told the trio they had shown no remorse for their actions and their only concern was for themselves. All three will become eligible to be considered for parole on 25 May 2056.