Man expresses shame over taking woman's life

Samantha Holden was found dead at home by her teenage son

A man has told a court he feels ashamed of unintentionally taking the life of a woman who was a sex worker and leaving her body to be found by her 18-year-old son.

Samantha Holden, 56, was found suffocated and strangled in the living room of her flat in Farnborough, Hampshire, on 9 September 2022.

Her client, Adam Watson, 37, of Eastchurch, Kent, told Winchester Crown Court he slapped the mother of two in anger when she was smirking during sex.

However, he said he did not intend to kill or seriously hurt her and denies a charge of murder.

Police were called to Ms Holden's flat in Church Road West shortly after 16:00 BST.

The teenager discovered his mother lying on the floor, completely covered by a blue dressing gown with her underwear by her knees, the jury was told.

Mr Watson was arrested two days later at a hotel in Belgium.

Giving evidence, the defendant said Ms Holden died on his sixth appointment with her after he had taken cocaine at her flat.

He said: "I still feel guilty or ashamed... because I had unintentionally taken that person's life, a person I had a good relationship with."

Mr Watson, who grew up in Newcastle and later moved to Farnborough, said he accepted he was involved in her death but did not deliberately strangle her.

He said: "Everything was spinning. I thought about ringing the emergency services but I knew she was gone.

"Now... I feel obviously ashamed, disgusted, not contacting anybody... but I wasn't properly thinking."

On a previous occasion in 2013, the defendant said he left a woman unconscious at his home after striking her.

However, he denied sexually assaulting her and removing her clothing.

He told the jury the situation was different at the time because he was previously abusing alcohol and cocaine and was upset over his father's failing health.

Before leaving Ms Holden's flat, the factory worker said he covered her body, took her phone and responded "Ha ha" to a friend's message on a WhatsApp group.

Anna Vigars KC, prosecuting, asked the defendant how angry he was when he slapped Ms Watson.

He replied: "A bit, seconds, but once I'd done it, I didn't mean events to happen."

The trial continues.