A suspected double murderer is accused of killing his first victim in a disused block of flats in south London after a “sexual encounter”, the Old Bailey has heard.
Simon Levy, 40, has been charged with murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo in Southwark in March and killing Sheryl Wilkins in Tottenham in August.
Alongside the two murder charges, he is also accused of raping, seriously assaulting, and strangling a third woman in an alleged incident in January.
At the Old Bailey on Wednesday, Levy appeared on a videolink from HMP Belmarsh after being charged with Ms Valencia-Trujillo’s murder.
“The body of the deceased was found in the early evening of March 17 in a block of flats which is very largely disused, so it doesn’t contain many residents – hardly any“, said prosecutor Tom Little KC.
“There are not many people passing by, apart from the odd security officer who patrols the area for reasons of safety.”
It is alleged Levy had travelled to Southwark the day before Ms Valencia-Trujillo’s body was discovered, and prosecutors say Levy had a “sexual encounter” with her.
“Our case is he murdered her as a result of, and during, that (encounter)”, said Mr Little.
Levy, who is blind in one eye, wore dark glasses, a grey lounge suit and brown loafers for the hearing in front of Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London.
The Metropolitan Police announced that Levy had been charged with Ms Valencia-Trujillo’s murder on Monday, while making a rare pre-trial appeal for other women he may have come into contact to come forward.
Levy was charged with Ms Wilkins’ murder in September, after the discovery of her body in a car park in High Road, Tottenham on the morning of August 24.
A court has heard Ms Wilkins, 39, was found face-down with a jacket covering her head.
It is alleged the third alleged victim, a sex worker, was attacked in Haringey by Levy after he refused to pay her, and she says she was raped as Levy put his hands over her face and suffocated her until she lost consciousness.
Judge Lucraft ordered Levy to return to court on February 23 next year to enter pleas to the two murder charges, two counts of rape, causing grievous bodily harm, and intentional strangulation.
Levy, of Beaufoy Road, Tottenham, was remanded back into custody.
His trial has been set for June next year.
Anyone with information on Levy has been urged to contact the Met Police on 07751 700 330, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
