A 48-year-old Nigerian man, Olubunmi Abodunde, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the United Kingdom for the murder of his wife, Taiwo, using a skateboard. The tragic incident occurred in November 2023 at their Newmarket home, where Taiwo succumbed to severe brain injuries.
Abodunde admitted to killing Taiwo, who sustained “catastrophic brain injuries,” as reported by the BBC. The Ipswich Crown Court highlighted the brutality of the attack at their Exning Road residence. Abodunde will serve a minimum of 17 years before being eligible for parole.
The court heard that the day before Taiwo’s death, Abodunde was involved in a domestic incident that led to his arrest. He was subsequently released on bail with conditions prohibiting contact with his wife. Despite these restrictions, Abodunde returned to the family home the next morning to retrieve a mobile phone.
Taiwo, a mother of three, had just finished an overnight shift as a healthcare assistant and arrived home around 09:12, according to CCTV footage. Prosecutor Stephen Spence KC explained that two officers visited the property around 09:20 to discuss the previous day’s domestic incident with Taiwo. Despite knocking repeatedly, they received no response but heard 40 to 50 “thuds,” believed to be Abodunde attacking his wife.
By 09:45, officers were authorized to enter the property, where they discovered Taiwo’s lifeless body with her skull shattered. A post-mortem examination revealed that she had suffered catastrophic brain injuries and had been strangled and beaten with a skateboard, which was found covered in blood and fragments of her skull.
In court, Abodunde sobbed as Spence described the horrific details. Abodunde had initially claimed that Taiwo attacked him with a knife the day before, but no evidence supported this. Judge Levett condemned the killing as “ruthless, violent, savage, and heartless,” stating that Abodunde’s claims of self-defense were unfounded.
The court also heard that Abodunde, previously a respected local councillor in Nigeria, had a history of disputes with Taiwo over bills and money. His barrister, Abimbola Akudolu, noted that Abodunde deeply regretted his actions.
Following the murder, Suffolk Police referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to prior interactions with the couple. The IOPC is investigating potential breaches of professional behavior by two officers, with another officer also under investigation. An IOPC spokesperson clarified that these investigations do not necessarily mean disciplinary proceedings will follow.
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