The boyfriend of a beloved teacher stabbed to death at her Carshalton home has been sectioned after admitting manslaughter.
Tragic Murder of ‘Phenomenal’ Teacher
Gemma Devonish, 42, was found dead at her flat in Nutfield Close early on December 19, 2024. She had been stabbed multiple times by her partner, James Madden, 45, who was arrested just hours later at his Brixton home.
Tributes poured in from those who knew Gemma:
- Rosie Friend: “RIP Miss Devonish, you were so loved and always made sure everyone smiled.”
- Niki Hodson-Aubrey: “How lucky were we to know this incredible woman, and how lucky were her students to have her. Shine bright, Gemma.”
School Mourns ‘Kindest and Most Gentle’ Teacher
David Lach, head of Rosebery School, described Gemma as devoted and inspiring, saying she “went above and beyond” for her pupils. He called her loss “incalculable” but said her powerful legacy lives on in hundreds of students touched by her passion and empathy.
