Murdered woman found dead by her son, court hears

Samantha Holden was a "kind and beautiful soul", her family said

A client killed a woman who was a sex worker at her home, leaving her body to be found by her 18-year-old son, a court has heard.

Samantha Holden's partially clothed body was found on the living room floor of her flat in Farnborough, Hampshire, on 9 September 2022.

The 56-year-old sex worker had been suffocated and strangled, the jury at Winchester Crown Court was told.

Adam Watson, 37, of Eastchurch, Kent, was arrested two days later in Belgium and charged with murder, which he denies.

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

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

He began CPR but a paramedic pronounced her dead at the scene.

Mr Watson's DNA was later found on Ms Holden's neck and fingernails, the court heard.

Giving evidence, the defendant said he first contacted her in May 2022 through an adult website, where she offered sexual services under the name "English blonde lady".

He said they met for sexual encounters several times before her death.

The jury was also told about an incident in 2013 where Mr Watson attacked another woman.

She rejected his sexual advances and fell unconscious when he subsequently hit her and put his hand around her neck, the court heard.

When she awoke, her leggings and underwear were down to her knees, according to facts agreed by the prosecution and defence barristers.

However, Mr Watson told the court he had only pleaded guilty to sexual assault to spare the woman from a court hearing.

The defendant, who grew up in Newcastle and later moved to Farnborough, said he was affected at the time by alcohol and cocaine as well as by his father's terminal cancer diagnosis.

Previously, Ms Holden's family issued a statement describing her as a “kind and beautiful soul who will be forever loved”.

The trial continues.