A man who murdered a woman he met through an online dating website has has been sentenced to life, with a minimum of 23 years, at the Old Bailey today, Thursday, 21 July.
Miles Donnelly (a.k.a.Miles Ryan), 35 of Hall Place, London, W2 killed 44-year old mother-of-one, Usha Patel in her Cricklewood flat on Wednesday, 7 October 2015.
Donnelly was also sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to one count of actual bodily harm in relation to a second woman. This sentence will run concurrently.
Donnelly had pleaded guilty to both offences at the Old Bailey on Monday, 18 July.
The court heard that Donnelly and Ms Patel had been in contact online since April 2015 but had previously met in person. Arrangements were made for Donnelly to visit Ms Patel at her home at 20:0hrs on Wednesday, 7 October.
Ms Patel's body was discovered by a family member who came to her home on morning of 8 October.
A post-mortem examination found the cause of her death to be asphyxiation; however she had also suffered a number of stab wounds to her abdomen and had been physically assaulted around the face.
Inside the flat officers found a set of house keys which they established belonged to Donnelly. Forensic evidence including samples from a wine glass was also matched to him.
A murder investigation was launched by detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, who began a manhunt to arrest Donnelly.
At about 03:00hrs on Thursday, 8 October, Donnelly went to the home address of a 43-year old woman in Hall Place, W2 where he stayed for some 36 hours. At some point he made sexual advances towards the woman, she refused and he hit her on the back of her head with a stool.
On Sunday, 11 October, Donnelly telephoned the police and advised them of his current location. Officers attended and he was arrested for the murder of Usha Patel.
Detective Inspector James Stevenson, Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "Donnelly declined to answer any questions put to him during his police interviews and has never offered any information as to why he assaulted and killed Usha Patel that night."
"Usha's family are completely devastated"
"Today, I am pleased that Donnelly now faces a considerable prison."
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