The three people who took advantage of a vulnerable London woman to torture, starve, beat and leave her to die separated from her loved ones were eventually sentenced to life in prison.
“I never got the chance to say goodbye to her or tell her I love her. These people left her to die alone, feeling that she was not loved as much as they separated her from everyone,” confided the victim’s son.
Shakira Spencer, 35, was tortured, beaten, starved and killed by her former neighbor Ashana Studholme, 39, her partner Shaun Pendlebury, 26, and her friend Lisa Richardson, The Guardian reported.
Shakira Spencer, who was 35 at the time of her murder, was allegedly treated “like a slave.” For example, her feet were scalded and she was only given ketchup packets, the trial said. The young woman was also forced into prostitution.
The three people responsible were convicted of murder in December 2023.
His son said he suffered from nightmares and anxiety following the tragedy. “I cannot escape the terrible image of my mother, emaciated and in poor health,” he confessed.
Shakira's mother, Merjia Spencer, told the court that her daughter's vulnerability had harmed her. “She always wanted to be loved, which made her want to please and be caring. However, this personality trait also made her vulnerable,” lamented the mother.
“The defendants were not satisfied with having completely destroyed Shakira’s life. When she was at her lowest point, she was tortured and killed like a pack of animals,” she added.