Man who said mother's rib and spine fractures were from dementia-related falls guilty of murder

Vanita Nowell, 68, was found with 28 fractures to her ribs and six to her spine
Steffon Hewitt was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court
Metropolitan Police
Jordan King28 February 2024
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A south London man who tried to blame his mother’s brutual injuries on repeated falls due to her dementia has been found guilty of her murder.

Steffon Hewitt, 51, was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday after showing “no remorse” for killing 68-year-old Vanita Nowell.

He called emergency services on March 8, in 2020, and told the operator he had found his mother unresponsive on the bathroom floor in his home in Peckham, southeast London.

She was already dead, with extensive bruising to her face, when paramedics arrived.

The mother had suffered a traumatic brain injury alongside 28 fresh rib fractures and six fractures to her spine.

Hewitt said he had attempted CPR on his mother and added that he “may have broken a few ribs”.

But medical enquiries concluded that this procedure could not have caused fractures that severe.

Ms Nowell had moved from Barbados to live with her son the year before her murder.

Detective Constable Nick Stocking said: “This was a vicious attack but Hewitt attempted to blame it on his mother’s constant falling due to her dementia.

“A combination of forensic and medical evidence proved this was not true and it is right he will now face the consequences of his actions.”

Hewitt will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on April 16.

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