Brutal Flatmate Murder: Man Kills Woman, Hides Body, and Lives with It for Weeks
A grim crime shocker out of SW11 – Kristian Smith, 42, has been found guilty of manslaughter for killing 52-year-old Antoinette Donegan and then hiding her decomposing body in her own flat while living there for weeks.
Horrific Discovery in Battersea Flat
Police were called to Este Road on 7 March 2019 after no one had seen Antoinette in over a month. Officers broke in through a bedroom window and discovered her badly decomposed body inside. Clothes had been piled against the bedroom door to mask the stench of decay.
The floor and furniture were soaked in blood. Despite the gruesome scene, Kristian Smith had been living in the flat since November 2018 and stayed on after the killing.
CCTV, Phone Records and Blood Evidence Seal the Case
- Antoinette was last seen alive on 1 February 2019.
- Smith used her bank card multiple times throughout February, withdrawing cash on several dates.
- He swapped SIM cards, placing hers into his phone to hide traces.
- Police found Smith on 13 March with Antoinette’s bank card, jewellery, and SIM card.
- Blood on Smith’s trainers matched Antoinette’s DNA.
Brutal Assault Led to Death
Post-mortem showed Antoinette suffered repeated head injuries from a broken mug, along with seven fractured ribs — clear signs of a savage attack, far from self-defence.
“Antoinette’s generosity in letting Smith stay turned into a nightmare,” said Detective Chief Inspector John Massey. “He abused her trust in the worst way possible. He lived with her dead body and stole from her. The jury saw through his lies. He now faces a long stretch behind bars.”
Smith had already pleaded guilty to fraud and preventing a lawful burial. Sentencing is pending.
