A vile predator who killed an NHS worker by repeatedly orally raping her as she lay unconscious on a park bench was today found guilty of manslaughter.
Jurors at the Old Bailey cried as they were shown horrifying images of the vile attack carried out by Mohamed Noor Iidow, 35.
Lidow had been prowling around Southall Park, west London, looking for women to attack when he found Natalie Shotter, 37, a mother of three, lying on a bench.
The demon overstimulated the nerves at the back of his throat in the horrific attack on July 17, 2021, causing him to go into cardiac arrest.
Mrs. Shotter, who stood just over five feet tall and weighed just 95 pounds, lay dead for hours before she was finally found by a passerby.
Jurors at the Old Bailey cried as they were shown horrific images of the vile attack carried out by Mohamed Noor Lidow, 35.
Lidow attacked mother-of-three Natalie Shotter, 37, after she was knocked unconscious during a night out in Southall, west London.
Ms Shotter had been dead for hours before she was found by a passer-by in Southall Park, west London, on July 17, 2021.
Ms Shotter’s mother, Dr Cas Shotter Weetman, an NHS cardiologist, said the family is celebrating Iidow’s conviction.
She said: “We are delighted for her children and that we have finally, finally, after three and a half years, got justice for Nat,” adding that she was a “beautiful soul.”
Dr Weetman added: “We’re celebrating, we’re obviously jubilant, absolutely jubilant about the outcome, I can’t tell you what it means to us.”
“She was a very, very beautiful girl, NHS worker, worked for charities, mother of three, just the most amazing, kind soul.” “I had a lot to give, a lot more to give.”
Police initially treated Ms Shotter’s death as unexpected before arresting Lidow on August 4, 2021.
The victim’s mother, cardiologist Dr. Cas Shotter Weetman, criticized the Metropolitan Police after two officers allegedly told Shotter’s friend there was nothing they could do to help her.
He led a campaign for justice for his daughter and believes a culture of misogyny at the Met contributed to her death.
Lidow was charged with involuntary manslaughter and rape on December 21, 2023 and found guilty of both charges by a jury of eight men and four women.
The NHS worker’s family cried in court as Lidow was found guilty by a unanimous verdict.
Lidow spoke a few words to a supporter in the public gallery, but otherwise showed no reaction to the verdict.
Mrs Shotter’s mother, who has worked for the NHS for 45 years, said after the verdict: “We are celebrating, we are obviously jubilant, absolutely jubilant at the result, I can’t tell you what it means to us.”
“She was a very, very beautiful girl, NHS worker, worked for charities, mother of three, just an incredible, kind soul.
“I had a lot to give, a lot more to give.”
The court heard Lidow had previous convictions relating to “online sexual offences”.
The court heard Ms Shotter (pictured) was very vulnerable on the night of the attack.
Ms Shotter (pictured with her mother) was just over 5ft tall and weighed just over six stone and a half (43kg), jurors were told.
London Common Serjeant Judge Richard Marks, KC, adjourned sentencing until December 14.
Jurors wept as prosecutor Alison Morgan narrated harrowing CCTV footage.
The court heard Natalie had been drinking and taking poppers before lying down on the bench.
“At 11:41 p.m. you can see her arm moving, swaying a little, she’s lying on the bench,” he said.
‘Natalie is lying down and there is nothing to suggest that she has suddenly fallen to the ground dead or that she is having a seizure.
‘Consumption of alcohol and poppers could have caused her to lie down that way, she must have been drowsy and semi-conscious.
‘The prosecution’s argument is that even if he had consumed those substances, there was no reason for him to die before that time.
‘It is very possible that she was lying on that bench thanks to what she consumed.
‘What was the accused doing there? What was he looking to do, walking up and down the trails in the middle of the night?
The prosecutor added that Lidow was “looking for a vulnerable woman to rape.”
Shotter was found dead on a bench in Southall Park (pictured), west London, in July 2021.
But Lidow’s lawyers argued that he may not have caused the death or that Ms Shotter was dead before he encountered her.
Peter Glenser, KC, defending, told the jury: “There is no evidence that Mrs Shotter moved after 11.41pm, the possibility that she is dead cannot be excluded.”
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, who led Scotland Yard’s investigation, said: “Lidow’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 that Natalie’s death was caused by rape 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 had to listen to these details throughout the trial. Iidow now faces a long prison sentence.