On Crimes That Shook Britain, broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan is joined by a team of experts and witnesses to examine cases that gripped the nation to explore how they shaped public conversation. Series nine airs Mondays at 9pm on Crime + Investigation and features the horrific torture and murder of Shakira Spencer.
Many sinister and horrific events have sadly made UK headlines over recent years, but the story of Shakira Spencer is one that should never be forgotten.
In September 2022, 35-year-old Shakira Spencer’s body was discovered at her West London flat after neighbours noticed maggots emerging from her home. In a scene that sent shockwaves around the world, it was uncovered that Spencer endured months of dehumanising and degrading behaviour.
But who could cause such pain? Within this article, we delve into the cruel murder of Shakira Spencer and explore what happened leading up to the death of the London-based mum.
What happened to Shakira Spencer?
Shakira Spencer, a mum-of-two from West London, was subjected to months of abuse and controlling behaviour by three people she was said to be friends with.
Shakira’s neighbour Ashana Studholme, her lover Shaun Pendlebury, and their friend Lisa Richardson have all been convicted of the murder of Shakira Spencer and will serve at least 34 years.
Beaten and enslaved by people she thought she knew well, it emerged that Shakira was completely controlled by the three, spending weeks and weeks surviving on ketchup sachets alone, seeing her drop multiple dress sizes in a matter of months.
What seemed to be a friendship between a group of neighbours turned into a heinous attack on a vulnerable young woman.
Treated like a slave
In several images taken by the trio prior to Shakira’s eventual death, bruising was visible all over her, as well as hollowed eyes and a malnourished skeletal body. Shakira was subjected to a months-long campaign of abuse and was ‘treated like a slave’ by the defendants.
After months of isolation and cruelty, Shakira turned into a shadow of her former self, appearing subdued and weak with the offenders in ‘complete control’. It’s been reported that Shakira was dominated and forced to complete tasks for her tormentors, including running errands and cleaning their house – among other horrific duties jurors were informed of at the trial.
As well as controlling Shakira’s every movement, Studholme and Richardson took control of her money and home. Pendlebury lived in her West London flat while Shakira was kept in the bike shed. Images and videos have also emerged of Studholme and Richardson laughing and mocking Sharika while she was being beaten.
A beautiful and happy mother
‘A beautiful and happy mother', family and friends said Shakira was known for having a kind and trusting nature and was friends with Studholme before the atrocities occurred.
Merjia Spencer, Shakira’s mother, described her daughter as a ‘caring and sweet-natured person’ who was keen to please people – a personality trait that also made her vulnerable to those around her.
It is not known what the three defendants’ motive was when they decided to carry out this sadistic campaign of torture.
A frenzied climax
After weeks and weeks of unfathomable cruelty, the abuse finally reached a frenzied climax on 11th or 12th September 2022.
Starved, burned and beaten, Shakira was left lifeless at Studholme’s home, succumbing to the battering she had endured over time. It was reported that instead of taking Shakira to the hospital to assist with her injuries, Studholme and Pendlebury placed the victim into the boot of the car and simply drove home.
Once home, Shakira was left in a cupboard and later moved to the bottom of a children’s bunk bed where she was left. She eventually died from her injuries and was found around two weeks later by neighbours at her Ealing property.
Due to the poor condition of her body, forensic teams sadly could not establish a specific cause of death. However, a post-mortem test found that cuts to her scalp, scalding wounds to her feet, as well as a crushing injury to her ear, all participated in Shakira’s death.
An attempted cover-up
After Shakira’s body was found, the trio attempted to cover up the murder by purchasing cleaning products using her card – ready to try and erase any trace of DNA from their homes.
On the same evening, a relative of Pendlebury contacted the police. They advised that he had confessed to being an accomplice to the murder of a woman, along with Richardson and Studholme.
The trauma and sheer brutality that Shakira Spencer endured are stark reminders of the consequences of control and evil.
