Man admits murdering wife with skateboard in Newmarket

Olobunmi Abodunde admitted killing his wife Taiwo before the prosecution opened their case at trial

A man who beat his wife to death in their home with a skateboard as police officers tried to force their way in has admitted murder.

Olobunmi Abodunde, 48, was on trial for the death of Taiwo Abodunde, 41, but admitted killing her in a late plea.

She suffered "catastrophic injuries" during the attack in Newmarket, Suffolk, on 28 November, a court heard.

Three officers are being investigated for misconduct over the case, the police watchdog confirmed.

Sentencing will take place on 9 May at Ipswich Crown Court.

The prosecution said police had been called to the couple's home on Exning Road a number of times before over domestic incidents, including the day before the fatal attack.

Abodunde had been bailed and warned not to visit the property but, after finishing a night shift in Tesco, he went there shortly after 09:00 GMT.

'I am guilty, Sir'

Two officers arrived at the couple's home eight minutes later for a scheduled follow up visit with Mrs Abodunde about the previous day's domestic incident.

"They heard a number of bangs, which the Crown suggest was the defendant continuing to attack his wife," prosecutor Stephen Spence KC told Ipswich Crown Court.

When the officers forced entry to the property they found Mrs Abodunde "clearly dead" on the floor close to the front door, the court was told.

The court heard Mrs Abodunde, a nurse, suffered "catastrophic injuries", including broken ribs and having her skull "smashed in" with a skateboard after being "throttled".

Asked by Judge Martyn Levett for his plea, Abodunde, a Nigerian national, said: "I am guilty, Sir."

Police forced their way into the home after hearing bangs

The family moved to the UK in 2022 from Nigeria.

Nneka Akudolu KC, for the defendant, said his behaviour was "highly unusual".

"This level of violence was completely out of character for him and the only reasonable explanation to him is the medication he was taking impacted his behaviour," she said.

The judge warned Abodunde that the only possible sentence was one of life imprisonment.

Officers under investigation

After the murder, Suffolk Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to previous contact with the couple.

It said the earlier this month, two officers were advised they were being investigated for gross misconduct over potential breaches of the standards of professional behaviour.

Another officer is under investigation for breaches amounting to misconduct.

An IOPC spokesman said: "This does not mean disciplinary proceedings will necessarily follow. Our investigation remains ongoing."

Det Insp Dan Connick said: "This was an awful attack on a woman that has had a lasting impact on the community and, most importantly, on the victim's family.

"We are pleased that Taiwo's family will no longer have to go through the pain of a trial.

"Our thoughts remain with Taiwo's family and friends and hope this result will bring some small comfort to them."