Man Pleads Guilty to Murdering Kindhearted Woman in Her Own Home
Gavin Lewis Admits Murder at Old Bailey
Gavin Shane Carl Lewis, 41, with no fixed address, pleaded guilty to killing Sandra Samuels at the Old Bailey on Friday, 4 December. He will be sentenced on Tuesday, 8 December.
Family Friend’s Concern Sparks Murder Probe
A chilling investigation began on 31 August 2019 when Sandra Samuels was found dead in her flat on Howard Road, N16. A family member raised the alarm after not seeing Sandra for days. Police broke into her home, where Sandra was pronounced dead at 3:58pm.
CCTV Footage Seals Lewis’s Fate
Detectives uncovered vital evidence from a CCTV camera outside Sandra’s flat. It showed Lewis visiting multiple times leading up to her death. On 29 August 2019, Lewis was caught entering Sandra’s flat at 2:50pm, just before the deadly attack.
- Sandra was last seen alive unlocking her gate and leaving her keys in the lock.
- Lewis was inside her flat by 4:52pm and stayed for 19 minutes.
- He left shirtless, carrying a black holdall and took Sandra’s keys, never recovered.
The post-mortem revealed Sandra died from blunt force trauma to her head and torso. Lewis hid her body by covering it with items from the flat. After leaving, CCTV caught him dumping the holdall at Gillet Square.
Shocking Betrayal and Police Praise
Friends said Lewis appeared in good spirits after the murder. CCTV later showed him using Sandra’s phone to make a call on a bus. Police arrested Lewis on 3 September near Stamford Hill Broadway. Officers found Sandra’s phone and Lewis’s damp trainers, which he had tried to dry, likely to destroy evidence.
Lewis denied the murder but was charged on 5 September 2019. Detective Inspector Darren Jones said:
“Sandra was a kind and friendly woman loved by many. It’s a tragedy her life was brutally cut short by someone she trusted. Lewis repaid her hospitality with violence in her own home. The CCTV evidence was damning and pivotal in securing today’s guilty plea. I hope this brings some comfort to Sandra’s family and friends.”
