A former solider has admitted killing his partner and Britain’s Got Talent star Simonne Kerr at their home in London.
Desmond Sylva, 40, was accused of stabbing Simonne – who appeared on the talent show last year as part of The B Positive Choir – at the property in Battersea on August 15 last year.
Sylva pleaded guilty to her manslaughter during a hearing at the Old Bailey court in London, however, denied her murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
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Members of Kerr’s family sat in court as Sylva entered his plea.
Sylva was remanded in custody and will face a murder trial at the Old Bailey from June 3, which is expected to last up to two weeks.
Last summer, police were called to the South West London property shortly before 12:40pm and Kerr was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sylva was arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene, sparking the 90th homicide investigation in the capital last year.
Kerr was a haematology and oncology nurse at Guys and St Thomas Hospital in South London and joined the choir after her six-year-old son Kavele died from sickle cell disease in 2015.
She had discovered she was a sickle cell disease carrier during a routine 12-week pregnancy scan and Kavele was diagnosed at just five-days-old after a heel-prick test.
At the time of her death, a spokeswoman from NHS Blood and Transplant said in a statement: “Our thoughts and condolences are with Simonne’s family at this tragic time.
“She was a valued and respected member of the B Positive choir who was passionate about the lifesaving power of blood donation following the loss of her son.
“The choir, NHS Blood and Transplant and all those who knew Simonne are devastated at the loss of a well-liked choir member and friend.”
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Kerr appeared on the ITV talent show as part of the choir B Positive – which was formed by NHS nurses and doctors to raise awareness for blood donations.
Judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon were overcome with emotion as they listened to the choir perform their rendition of Rise Up.
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