Forest Hill Tragedy: Man Confesses to Killing Wife, Found Hidden in Attic
A man has confessed to killing his wife, whose body was discovered in the attic of their southeast London home.
Shane Simmonds, 39, faces charges of murdering Tia Simmonds, 32, in early January this year.
Her body was found on January 3 in a storage area of a converted loft, concealed under clothing and bedding.
At the Old Bailey on Tuesday, Simmonds appeared via videolink from HMP Belmarsh.
He continues to deny the murder allegation but has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter, accepting he was responsible for the death.
When entering the guilty plea, Simmonds added that he was accepting manslaughter “by diminished responsibility.”.
Simmonds also pleaded guilty to twice raping another female on the day before his wife’s body was discovered at the home on Parbury Road in Forest Hill.
A murder trial is due to take place on October 14.
Simmonds was arrested after voluntarily attending a police station on January 3.
He was remanded in custody by Judge Richard Marks, KC, the Common Serjeant of London, until the trial.
