Jurors at the Old Bailey were visibly emotional when shown distressing footage of an att*ck perpetrated by 35-year-old Mohamed Noor Iidow.
Iidow was searching for women to target when he encountered 37-year-old mother-of-three Natalie Shotter on a bench in Southall Park, West London.
According to Mail Online, the assailant’s actions on July 17, 2021, overstimulated the nerves at the back of her throat, leading to a cardiac arrest.
Ms. Shotter remained deceased for hours before being discovered by a passerby.
Her mother, NHS cardiology practitioner Dr. Cas Shotter Weetman, expressed relief at Iidow’s conviction, saying it provided justice for her daughter’s children and described Ms. Shotter as a “beautiful soul.”
Dr. Weetman, celebrating the verdict, shared the family’s joy, highlighting Natalie’s roles as an NHS worker, charity supporter, and a devoted mother with much to offer.
Initially, the police considered Ms. Shotter’s death as unexpected until Iidow’s arrest on August 4, 2021.
The victim’s mother criticized the Met Police after officers allegedly told a friend of Ms. Shotter they were powerless to assist. She led a justice campaign, asserting that misogyny within the Met played a role in her daughter’s demise.
Iidow was charged with manslaughter and rape on December 21, 2023, and was subsequently convicted of both counts by a jury.
As Iidow was found guilty by a unanimous decision, Ms. Shotter’s family was visibly emotional in court.
The court revealed that Iidow had previous convictions related to online sexual offences.
Judge Richard Marks, KC, has scheduled the sentencing for December 14.
Jurors were moved to tears as prosecutor Alison Morgan described the graphic CCTV evidence.
The court heard that Natalie had consumed alcohol and poppers before reclining on the bench.
“There was no indication of her suddenly collapsing or seizing,” Morgan said, “Though affected by substances, there was no reason for her to die at that point; she was vulnerable.”
Morgan argued that Iidow was “seeking out a vulnerable woman to exploit,” but Iidow’s defense claimed he might not have caused her death, suggesting she could have been deceased before he found her.
Defense lawyer Peter Glenser, KC, pointed out the lack of evidence showing Ms. Shotter moving after 11:41 p.m., leaving open the possibility she was already dead.
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, leading the investigation, condemned Iidow’s predatory attack on Natalie as disturbing, highlighting the need for safe environments.
Despite Iidow’s claim of consensual conduct, the case’s rarity and trag!c nature profoundly affected those involved, Jolley noted.
He praised the rigorous work of experts needed to prove that Natalie’s death resulted from ass*ult, commending her family’s resilience through the trial and emphasizing that Iidow now faces a lengthy prison sentence.