A murderer who stole drugs from the body of a Cardiff mother after bursting into her flat and strangling her to death has been jailed for life.
Kial Ahmed, 25, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to murdering Nadia Jones, 38, at her flat in Tremorfa .
Roxanne Deacon, 27, was also sentenced for her role in the mother-of-one’s death after pleading guilty of manslaughter.
The body of Ms Jones was found by a neighbour at her flat in Meirion Place on September 11 last year.
The court heard that Ahmed and Deacon, who had been in a relationship for a couple of weeks, set upon Ms Jones after making a “premeditated” plan to head to her home and commit a violent robbery and steal drugs from her.
Prosecutor Michael Mather-Lees QC said: “The events took place on the night on Thursday, September 10, 2015.
“It’s right to say during the course of that day both defendants had been taking class A drugs.
“Nadia Jones was killed in her own home at night.
'Sleeper hold'
“She was put into a ‘sleeper hold’. There was pressure on her throat sufficient enough to cause her to die.
“She was battered before that. It’s accepted by Ms Deacon a number of blows were meted out to her face.
“The injuries are medically superficial but that does not say it was a superficial attack.”
Mr Mather-Lees said the defendants had bought drugs from Ms Jones who the court was told was a known supplier of drugs and had sold drugs to the defendants before.
Going back to the events of the night, he said Deacon and Ahmed arrived at Ms Jones’ flat at around 11.30pm where she was “set upon” by Deacon.
The court was told how Ms Jones was beaten to the upper part of the body including her face and head - 17 injuries were later discovered to her upper body.
'It's plain they robbed her'
Mr Mather-Lees said: “Mr Ahmed had Ms Jones in a sleeper hold, something he was well used to doing.
“There was a knock on the door by Lee Burroughs who lives in the same block of flats.
“Ms Deacon answered the door and Mr Ahmed followed later.
“Ms Jones must have been incapacitated at that time otherwise she would have opened her own door.”
He added: “It’s plain they robbed her not only of drugs but money.
“Ms Jones was known to secrete drugs on her body cavity.
“There’s some inference that the drugs were taken from her body. This is not accepted by the defendants.”
Both defendants were interviewed following a police investigation and both denied their involvement in Ms Jones’ death.
Deacon “consistently lied” about her involvement.
Ahmed gave a number of accounts of denial but then admitted his role, consistent with Deacon’s basis of plea.
'Nadia didn't deserve to die like this'
A victim impact statement written by Ms Jones’ mother Diane Katy was read out to the court by Mr Mather-Lees.
It said: “It’s extremely unfair. Nobody should have taken Nadia away from us.
“Nadia didn’t deserve to die like this. There will never be closure because it will have an affect on us for the rest of our lives.”
David Aubrey QC, defending Ahmed, and Petert Rouch QC, defending Deacon, said both of their clients denied searching Ms Jones’ body for drugs but had expressed “shame” and “remorse” for what they had done.
Judge Neil Bidder QC told them: “Both of you were drug addicts when this offence took place. You wanted drugs and you knew Nadia Jones would probably have drugs.
“There’s no doubt that before going to her flat you both agreed to rob her of drugs.
“You both knew she was a long term drug user and that she supplied drugs.
“You both knew, I am sure, it was likely she would conceal drugs. You knew you would need to use force to obtain the drugs.”
The judge added: “This was a violent and personal robbery in her home with high culpability.
“Significant force was used and serious harm was caused to the victim.”
Ahmed, of Catherine Drive, Tongwynlais , Cardiff, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 19 years and 97 days.
Deacon, of Thomas Street, Grangetown , Cardiff, was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years imprisonment.
Treasured memories
In a statement released after the hearing, Ms Jones’ daughter Leah Driscoll said: “We would just like to thank South Wales Police, family liaison officers and victim support officers for all the hard work they have put in over the last nine months, they have worked really hard and today it has finally paid off.
“We would also like to thank our family and friends for the continuous support they have given every step of the way.
“No sentence is long enough as when they are released they will be back out.
“Ours is a life sentence as Nadia will never be back with us. We will always have our memories to treasure but there were so many more that we should had made.”
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Mark O’Shea, from South Wales Police, said: “Nadia Jones was a much loved mother and daughter, and her family continue to grieve her death.
“We would like to thank the witnesses who came forward and the Tremorfa community for their help and support during our investigation into this callous crime.
“We hope the sentencing helps Nadia’s family to somehow move forward and to remember her as a young woman who was happy, bubbly and fun to be around.”
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/murderer-who-killed-mother-flat-11444825
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