Simonne Kerr murder: Iraq war veteran Desmond Sylva found guilty of killing ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ finalist

Court hears how army veteran stabbed nurse more than 70 times

Iraq war veteran Desmond Sylva has been found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering Britain’s Got Talent finalist Simonne Kerr.

The 31-year-old nurse was found by police in Grayshott Road, Battersea, in August last year after she had been stabbed more than 70 times.

Sylva, who served in Iraq and Kosovo, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in February but denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility, citing depression.

However, prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC told jurors it was an all too familiar case of “sexual desire, appalling violence and desperate lies”.

He said: “He wanted to restart a sexual relationship with Simonne Kerr. When he did not get what he wanted, he could not control his anger and he exploded.”

Ms Kerr, whose six-year-old son Kavele died of sickle cell disease, shot to fame in the NHS choir B Positive on the ITV show Britain’s Got Talent.

The court was told she met Sylva through the dating app Tinder and how one month before the murder, they had restarted a relationship that had ended earlier that year.

On the morning of 15 August 2018, Ms Kerr arranged to visit his flat after her shift at Guys and St Thomas’s Hospital.

Sylva attacked her in bed with a 20cm kitchen knife, slashing her throat and repeatedly stabbing her face and neck.

He then called 999 and said: “I’ve just committed a murder. I’m ex-army and I’ve got lots of mental health issues.”

Louise Attrill, a senior crown prosecutor within the London homicide unit, described the murder as a “shocking attack on a woman who was busy dedicating her life to worthwhile causes”.

“Having lost her six-year-old son to sickle cell disease, she was campaigning to raise awareness of the illness,” she said.

“The fact that her partner, a man she should have trusted without doubt, could end all of this in a fit of rage makes this even harder to comprehend.”

Jurors heard that Sylva had a history or depression, bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder – but also had problems with controlling his temper.

He served 10 years in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers before he was discharged on medical grounds.

The day before the killing, he told his brother Damian that he feared he would kill himself or someone else.

Giving evidence, Sylva said: “I did not mean to kill her. I had deep feelings for her.

“When I slashed the knife across her throat at that split second I thought I had a mental breakdown.”

Although the prosecution accepted that Sylva suffered with depression, they argued his actions before and after the murder did not indicate that he was unaware of what he was doing.

“Sylva’s mental condition did not provide him with any defence to this horrific crime,” Ms Attrill added.

“His depression neither explains nor justifies his actions; his anger got the better of him and he simply lost his temper.”

Judge Wendy Joseph QC adjourned sentencing until 28 June.

Agencies contributed to this report