Natalie Shotter was raped and killed by a stranger, Black British convicted sex offender Mohamed Noor Lidow rapist murderer, on a park bench after a night out, a court has heard.
Natalie Shotter, 37, was found dead on a bench in Southall Park, west London, on July 17 2021. Mohamed Iidow had murdered her.
Homeless British Mohamed Iidow, 35, is on trial at the Old Bailey charged with her rape and manslaughter.
On Tuesday, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC gave a brief outline of the case as a jury panel was selected to try the case.
She said: “In short, it is alleged that Mohamed Iidow raped Natalie Shotter and that the act of rape caused Natalie Shotter’s death.”
“Natalie Shotter does not appear to have been conscious at the time that she was raped, let alone consenting to the defendant. Mohamed Iidow could never have believed that she was consenting.
“It was the process of Mohamed Noor Iidow raping Natalie repeatedly that caused her death.”
Ms Morgan told jurors that it had taken time to understand what happened to Ms Shotter that night and what caused her death.
CCTV footage showed her barely moving and that she appeared to have been unconscious when she was raped and therefore could not have consented, Ms Morgan said.
Earlier that night, Ms Shotter was captured on other CCTV footage dancing outside a shop with other people.
Jurors were told the victim was little more than 5ft tall (152cm) and weighed just 43kg (6st 11lb).
UPDATE 19.10.24
A sexual predator has been found guilty of the rape and manslaughter of a vulnerable NHS worker who was attacked on a park bench.
Mohamed Noor Iidow had repeatedly sexually assaulted 37-year-old Natalie Shotter while she was passed out in Southall Park, west London, after a night out.
Following an Old Bailey trial, Iidow, 35, was found guilty of rape and manslaughter on Friday.
Ms Shotter’s mother, NHS cardiology practitioner Dr Cas Shotter Weetman, told the PA news agency that the family is celebrating Iidow’s conviction.
She said: “We’re delighted for her children and that we finally, finally, after three and a half years, have got justice for Nat,” adding that she was a “beautiful soul”.
Jurors were not told of Iidow’s previous conviction for sexual activity by seeking to groom young people online.
In legal argument before the trial, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC also outlined “historic” communications with others.
It was alleged they involved engaging others for “sexual services” and it was suggested he discussed about his “pleasures at the concept of rape”.
During the trial, Ms Morgan said Ms Shotter had died of a heart attack caused by Iidow raping her “again and again”.
Earlier, CCTV footage was shown of Ms Shotter sitting on a bench with a different man when the defendant walked past and looked at them.
“What was the defendant doing there, what was he seeking to do, walking up and down the paths in the middle of the night and thinking about what his objectives must have been – seeking out a vulnerable woman to rape,” Ms Morgan said.
Iidow then left the park and drove away in his car before he returned, jurors heard.
Ms Shotter was lying down, showing “no clear movement” for around half-an-hour before the defendant approached her “nonchalantly”, Ms Morgan said.
During the attack, the victim had been “deeply unconscious”, she said.
Further CCTV showed the defendant moving Ms Shotter’s body around in different positions as he raped her.
Afterwards, the defendant drove back to his home in Hounslow, west London, via a Shell garage where he stopped to buy cat food and mouthwash.
Ms Shotter was found dead by a passer-by in the park in the early morning of July 17 2021.
Swabs taken from her mouth area matched DNA samples taken from the defendant.
Iidow was arrested at his home on August 4 2021 and claimed in his police interview the sexual activity was consensual.
Ms Morgan had rejected any suggestion that Ms Shotter was already dead before she was assaulted by Iidow.
She told jurors: “The prosecution’s case is that Natalie died as a result of what was done to her by this defendant.
“She was not dead at the time when the defendant was orally raping her, it will be a matter for you to consider – that this defendant went to the park for a reason.
“He would not have sought to have sex with a dead body for over 15 minutes, he was having sex with someone he knew was alive but was deeply unconscious and therefore he was raping her.”
Iidow had denied the charges against him but declined to give evidence.
After the guilty verdict he was remanded into custody to be sentenced on December 13.
Ms Shotter’s mother, who has worked for the NHS for 45 years, added: “We’re celebrating, obviously we’re jubilant, absolutely jubilant about the outcome, I can’t tell you what it means to us.
“She was a beautiful, beautiful girl, an NHS worker, worked for charities, mother of three, just the most amazing soul, (and) kind.
“She had so much to give, so much more to give.”
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, who led the Scotland Yard investigation, said: “Iidow’s predatory attack on Natalie was disturbing and shocking.
“This man drove to the park that night and took advantage of a vulnerable woman who should have been safe.
“Even after his arrest, Iidow attempted to claim that his actions were consensual.
“This case has deeply affected those involved, due to its rarity and tragic details.
“We needed to prove Natalie’s death was caused by being raped and that involved diligent work using experts in this field to charge and now convict Iidow.
“I commend the strength of Natalie’s friends and family who have had to listen to these details throughout the trial. Iidow is now facing a long term of imprisonment.”
Kirsty O’Connor, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The victim had been on a night out enjoying herself and she was preyed upon by Mohammed Iidow. He raped her repeatedly, while she was unconscious, which caused her death.
“The investigation was extremely complex and involved working closely with the police and expert witnesses to establish what had happened to the victim and what led to her death.
“During police interviews, he stated that the victim was alive and consenting to the sexual activity with him. However, CCTV footage has proved that to not be the case, with the victim unconscious during the entire attack.
“The CPS is determined to deliver justice for victims of rape. Tragically, this vile attack cost the victim her life and we’d like to express our deepest condolences to her children and loved ones at this time.”
UPDATE 13.21.24
A “wicked” predator, Mohamed Noor Iidow, captured on CCTV while raping and murdering an NHS worker on a park bench, has received a life sentence.
Mohamed Iidow assaulted 37-year-old Natalie Shotter, a mother of three, while she was unconscious in Southall Park, west London, following a night out.
Jurors were informed that the former child stage star succumbed to a heart attack induced by repeated oral rape.
After an Old Bailey trial, Iidow, 35, was convicted of rape and manslaughter.
The court was informed that Ms. Shotter was a cherished mother, sister, partner, daughter, and former child star in a theatrical performance of Les Miserables.
On Friday, Judge Richard Marks KC sentenced Mohamed Noor Iidow to life imprisonment with a minimum period of 10 years and eight months.
He informed Iidow that exploiting the “exceptionally talented” Ms. Shotter during her fragile and unconscious state was “malevolent and utterly imprudent.”
The day I discovered Nat, I felt profoundly unwell and experienced an overwhelming sense of foreboding. I was in complete astonishment. I then learnt from the police that my daughter had perished under these tragic circumstances.
Even though there had never been a recorded case before of someone dying as a result of oral sex, there was a “high risk” that she would suffer really serious harm from what he did to her over “several minutes”, the judge said.
Iidow was a “dangerous offender” and had even engaged in “explicit” sexual chat online with a girl he thought was aged 13 in August 2022 while under investigation for rape.
Earlier, Ms Shotter’s mother, Dr Cas Shotter Weetman, an NHS cardiology practitioner, described her daughter as a “bundle of joy” who at the age of 12 had starred in the hit musical.
Ms Shotter had secured a place at the prestigious performing arts BRIT School in Croydon and had opportunities to work in theatre and television, she said.
As an adult, she became a mother of three children and worked for the British Heart Foundation before getting a job in clinical administration at her local NHS hospital.
Dr Shotter Weetman said: “She was brilliant at her job, kind to staff and patients alike.
“The day I found out about Nat, I felt absolutely sick and I felt a terrible feeling of doom. I was in absolute shock.
“I then had to later learn from the police that my daughter had died in these horrific circumstances.
“When Mohamed Iidow – and that is the only time I will say his name – was finally charged I was so glad but I realised everything was still to come.
“Watching the CCTV of my daughter being raped was desperately sad to see. No mother should have to see that.”
Addressing the defendant, she went on: “Hearing the medical evidence how you caused my daughter’s death destroyed my family.
“No woman should have to fear going to a park and sitting on a bench. It’s disgusting.
“You went after a vulnerable woman. She was a lovely mum, a great sister and daughter, a great kid. We are missing our beautiful girl.”
Father Andrew Shotter recalled his “feisty” daughter with “wonderful memories” of her performing in Les Miserables in front of thousands of people.
He said: “Hearing what happened in the last moments of her life was horrific.”
The former ambulance service worker added: “I feel powerless. In my head I am screaming to her not to go into the park. I cannot save her from that man.”
Ms Shotter’s partner, Anthony Wilson, said in his statement that the thought of her killer made him “angry” and that his new role of single father made him feel “stretched in every aspect”.
During the trial, the court had heard how Ms Shotter had been seen happily dancing in the street before going into the park after a night out.
Jurors had viewed CCTV of Iidow walking past the victim three times in a “predatory” way as she sat on the bench.
Half an hour later, she was lying down, showing “no clear movement” when the defendant approached her “nonchalantly”, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said.
She was “deeply unconscious” when Iidow repeatedly raped her orally, even moving Ms Shotter’s body around in different positions, the court was told.
Afterwards, the defendant drove back to his home in Hounslow, west London, via a Shell garage where he stopped to buy cat food and mouthwash.
Ms Shotter, whose three children are aged between five and 19, was found dead by a passer-by in the park in the early morning of July 17 2021.
Following the sentencing, Kirsty O’Connor, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Natalie Shotter had been on a night out enjoying herself and she was preyed upon by Mohamed Iidow. He raped her repeatedly, while she was unconscious, which caused her death.
“The investigation was extremely complex and involved working closely with the police and expert witnesses to establish what had happened to the victim and what led to her death.
“During police interviews, he stated that Natalie was alive and consenting to the sexual activity with him.
“However, CCTV footage has proved that to not be the case, with the victim unconscious during the entire attack.
“The CPS is determined to deliver justice for victims of rape. Tragically, this vile attack cost Natalie her life and we’d like to express our deepest condolences to her children and loved ones at this time.
“Natalie’s family have shown extreme courage and dignity throughout what has been a harrowing investigation and trial. We thank them for their support and continue to offer them our sincere condolences for the devastating loss of Natalie.”
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