A Peckham man has been convicted of murdering his mother after lying that her injuries were from falling over.
Steffon Hewitt, 51, battered his 68-year-old mother Vanita Nowell in a “vicious attack” in March 2020.
He was found guilty of murder following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court. He will be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, April 16.
Vanita moved to the UK from Barbados to live with her son in 2019.
On March 8, 2020, Hewitt inflicted “significant and extensive” injuries on his mother in what would have been a “painful death”, police said.
Vanita suffered 28 fresh rib fractures, six spinal fractures, extensive bruising to her face, head and body and a traumatic brain injury.
Hewitt called emergency services claiming he’d found her unresponsive on the bathroom floor but she was dead when paramedics arrived.
He said he’d attempted CPR on his mother and that he ‘may have broken a few ribs’.
Medical enquiries showed that the extent of the fractures could not have been caused by him performing this procedure.
Detective Constable Nick Stocking, part of the team that led the murder investigation, said: “Hewitt showed no remorse when killing his mother by inflicting significant and extensive injuries, resulting in what would have been a painful death.
“Vanita suffered from 28 fresh rib fractures and six fractures of her spine, alongside extensive bruising to her face, head and body. She also sustained a traumatic brain injury.
“This was a vicious attack but Hewitt attempted to blame it on his mother’s constant falling due to her dementia.
“A combination of forensic and medical evidence proved this was not true and it is right he will now face the consequences of his actions.”