Man Found Guilty of Brutal Murder of Nurse in Clapham
A 41-year-old man has been convicted of murdering nurse Simonne Kerr in a shocking stabbing attack in Clapham. On 15 August 2018, police were called to a flat on Grayshott Road after reports of a stabbing. Emergency services, including London’s Air Ambulance, rushed to the scene.
Simonne Found With 70 Stab Wounds
Inside the flat, officers found the 31-year-old nurse with multiple stabbing injuries, partially covered by a duvet. Paramedics battled to save her, but Simonne was pronounced dead at 1:41pm. A post-mortem revealed she had suffered 70 stab wounds. Desmond Sylva, Simonne’s former partner, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder the next day.
Sylva Admitted Killing Simonne
Sylva called 999 at 12:38am, confessing he had killed Simonne. Before that, he called his brother claiming to have murdered his girlfriend. He told officers he suffered from mental health issues and insisted the stabbing was self-defence during an argument. However, forensic evidence proved the wounds were inflicted in rapid succession, ruling out his claims.
Jury Rejects Claims of Self-Defence
At the Old Bailey on 19 June, jurors found Sylva guilty. He had pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2019 but rejected self-defence and blamed depression. The jury dismissed this defence, ruling his actions were deliberate and violent, not a moment of madness.
“Desmond Sylva stabbed Simonne almost 70 times and then sought to reduce his guilt and responsibility for what he had done,” said Detective Chief Inspector John Massey.
“Simonne’s family have shown incredible courage listening to his self-serving version of events. I hope today’s verdict provides them some justice and closure.”
Family Mourns Loss
Simonne’s family released a heartfelt statement: “The 15th of August will forever be a day our family will remember and mourn. A beautiful butterfly will always remind us of Simonne.”
Sylva will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 28 June.
