Man Jailed for 12 Years Over Brutal Death of Retired Nurse in Croydon Burglary
A Thornton Heath man has been locked up for 12 years after the tragic manslaughter of 76-year-old retired nurse Nelly Akomah. Nelly died following a violent burglary at her Croydon home.
Breaking In Turns Deadly
Hugo Da Silva Pires, 29, was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, November 25, 2024. Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter, burglary, and fraud.
On June 20, 2023, Da Silva Pires, who had recently installed a kitchen at Nelly’s house, returned under cover of darkness knowing she lived alone. While Nelly was upstairs, he broke in intending to steal.
When Nelly confronted him, Da Silva Pires violently attacked her, causing her to fall down the stairs. She sadly died from her injuries. Instead of helping, he coldly stepped over her body and fled with her handbag.
He later used her bank card to buy smartphones, children’s bedding, and power tools.
Overwhelming Evidence Leads to Arrest
Detectives quickly identified Da Silva Pires from CCTV footage showing him using Nelly’s stolen bank card. Crucial evidence included his DNA under Nelly’s fingernails, a sign she fought back. He also tried to cover his tracks by cutting CCTV wires and discarding his phone and stolen cards.
Da Silva Pires and his girlfriend Catiana Feliciano, 33, were caught at Stansted Airport while trying to flee to the Azores. Da Silva Pires had visible scratches on his face and neck at the time of arrest.
Feliciano was jailed for two years in January 2024 for fraud and perverting the course of justice after helping dispose of evidence.
Victim Remembered as Community Mourns
Nelly was a beloved member of her community and treasurer at Tooting Methodist Church. Her family described her as an “extraordinary mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, and friend” who devoted 30 years to nursing.
“We will forever cherish our memories with the matriarch of our family and community, whose life was taken far too soon… Hugo Da Silva Pires is a heartless individual. He deliberately preyed on an elderly woman who trusted him in her home as a tradesman. The manslaughter conviction can never quantify the severity of this crime.”
Police Condemn the Brutal Attack
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command slammed Da Silva Pires’ actions:
“Nelly was an elderly woman of small stature who had only ever shown Da Silva Pires kindness and trust. Instead of fleeing when discovered, he violently confronted her, causing her death. He is an abhorrent man whose greed led to this devastating outcome.”
Justice Served
- Da Silva Pires was jailed for 12 years for manslaughter, burglary, and fraud.
- Catiana Feliciano received a two-year sentence for her role in assisting him after the crime.
Community Left Reeling
This harrowing crime has shaken Croydon’s community, shining a light on the ugly consequences of greed and violence. Nelly’s family thanked the police for their relentless work and asked for privacy as they grieve and rebuild their lives.
