In a sequence of horrifying events captured by security cameras, Shannon Grant, 27, was seen buying cable ties at a hardware store, which he later used to strangle Natasha Morais, 40, in her own apartment. The crime, motivated by the desire to steal the victim’s phone and bank cards, shocked the local community.
After committing the murder, Grant tried to cover his tracks by posing as Natasha and requesting £2,000 from the victim’s mother, claiming it was for a fine. The suspicious family went to Natasha’s apartment on Loughland Close, Whetstone, Leicester, around 8:40 p.m. on June 22nd of last year, only to find a crime scene.
The police, alerted by the family who couldn’t enter the apartment, arrived at the scene and found Grant trying to escape through the window. Inside the apartment, they discovered Natasha’s body hidden under a bed, lifeless.
The investigation revealed that Natasha was a victim of a violent attack, with the autopsy confirming strangulation as the cause of death. Additionally, the police found a sawn-off shotgun and Natasha’s belongings while searching the apartment.
Grant, who tried to dispose of evidence by throwing his clothes and bag out of Natasha’s apartment, was captured hours later in an apartment in Coventry, where he was arrested by armed officers.
During the trial at Leicester Crown Court, Grant was convicted of murder, despite his claims that five strangers invaded the apartment and committed the crime. Cable ties recovered from Natasha’s body contained Grant’s DNA, and security cameras from the day before the crime showed him buying identical cable ties at a Coventry store.
Detective Inspector David Greenhalgh lamented the tragic loss of Natasha, describing her as a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend whose absence will be forever felt by those who knew her.
Grant awaits the verdict, scheduled for March 21, after being placed in custody. The verdict brings partial closure for Natasha’s family, although nothing can compensate for the loss of such a precious life in such a brutal and senseless manner.
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