Hospital order sentence handed down in Tejaswini Kontham manslaughter case

A man has been sentenced for the manslaughter of 27-year-old Tejaswini Kontham.

Keven Antonio Lourenco De Morais, 24 (11.09.99), of Neeld Crescent, Wembley appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, 30 May where he was sentenced to a hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and a restriction order under section 41.

He had previously appeared at the same court on Monday, 22 April where he pleaded guilty to manslaughter [by diminished responsibility]. His plea was accepted by the court. He had also previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder of a second victim.

An investigation was launched after police were called at 09:59hrs on Tuesday, 13 June to reports of a stabbing at a residential property in Neeld Crescent, Wembley.

Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service and found Tejaswini, who was from Hyderabad in India, and another woman, aged 28, suffering from knife injuries.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, Tejaswini sadly died at the scene. Her family were informed.

The second woman was taken to hospital with stab injuries that were later assessed as not life-threatening.

A post-mortem examination conducted at Northwick Park mortuary on Wednesday, 14 June found the cause of Tejaswini’s death to have been stab wound to the chest.

Detective Inspector Louise Caveen, from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: "This entire incident has been devastating for all concerned. One young woman lost her life and another woman will likely never recover from the emotional scars, even when the physical ones have faded.

“It is right that Lourenco De Morais will now receive treatment, however nothing will bring Tejaswini back to her family. Our thoughts remain with them.”

Shiva Namashivaya, on behalf of Tejaswini’s family, said: “The senseless and sudden way in which Teju was taken from us compounds our grief. Her death is such a huge loss for our family and we all miss her dearly.”

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Two other people arrested in connection with this investigation were released with no further action.