Brixton nephew found guilty of manslaughter for stabbing his aunt to death

A man has been found guilty of killing his aunt when he stabbed her over 50 times in Brixton last April.

Jordan Clarke, of Sudborne Road, Brixton was convicted at the Old Bailey last Wednesday where the judge made an interim order to hold Clarke in secure accommodation under the Mental Health Act.

The court heard police were called by paramedics on Sunday, 15 April 2018 to Sudbourne Road following reports of a stabbing.

Samantha Clarke, 39, was found bleeding in a bedroom but despite the efforts of medical professionals they could not save her from her wounds.

Detective inspector Dave Blair, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “Samantha arrived at the address that day with no idea of the danger she was in. Jordan’s family had sought help for his evidently deteriorating mental health but they too could not have known what was about to happen.

“Samantha was subjected to an unprovoked attack as she went about her business bringing her things into the address. It was an attack from which she tried to defend herself but ultimately stood no chance.

“I hope there will be some small measure of comfort for Jordan’s family in knowing justice has been done.”

Jordan Clarke had been suffering from deteriorating mental health in the days and weeks leading up to the incident, claiming that he was being followed by undercover police officers, and arranging furniture from the house in the street.

His strange behaviour led his family to get help from a doctor and he was referred to a local mental health team as a matter of urgency.

His symptoms did not appear severe enough to justify immediate treatment and he was told to return home.

Days later, Clarke’s uncle and Samantha Clarke decided to make a surprise visit to London from their home in High Wycombe.

Jordan Clarke’s behaviour began to worsen almost immediately – two other relatives at the address saw Jordan holding a screwdriver, before he made his way into the kitchen and took hold of several kitchen knives.

Jordan Clark locked his uncle outside and the remaining family members inside the kitchen.

Jordan Clarke’s father had been out visiting a relative and when he came back and found a kitchen knife laying in the corridor. He went to find Jordan upstairs in the house. He asked what had happened, to which he replied simply: “I have killed Samantha.”

Several psychiatric assessments have diagnosed Jordan Clarke as suffering from a psychotic related illness.

The motivation behind his attack could not be clearly identified but may have been triggered by his ailing mental health, worsened by the recent death of his grandfather, and the unexpected arrival of his uncle and Samantha Clarke.

Jordan has made no admission of guilt, or even acknowledged his presence on the day of Samantha Clarke’s murder.