Man, 45, admits murdering Microsoft manager, 44, who was found drowned in the Thames beside a Henley private members' club
Jennifer Symonds, 44, a senior customer success account manager at Microsoft's Reading headquarters, whose murder sentencing is set for 20 November before Mr Justice Jay.Nelio Gouveia, 45, who pleaded guilty at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday to drowning Jennifer Symonds, used a Portuguese interpreter during the brief hearing and bowed his head throughout.
Nelio Gouveia, 45, a kitchen porter at the Phyllis Court private members' club on the River Thames, pleaded guilty at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday to drowning Jennifer Symonds, 44, a Microsoft senior account manager, at Henley-on-Thames on 6 March. Gouveia, who required a Portuguese interpreter and kept his head bowed throughout the 10-minute hearing, was known to Symonds and was arrested the same day her body was found. He is due to be sentenced on 20 November before a High Court judge — a step reserved for the most serious offences.
Three of Symonds' friends were in court and appeared emotional and relieved after the guilty plea.
Police had found her body at 7.50am after being called to Phyllis Court Drive, with divers scouring the Thames over the following weekend.
Detective Inspector Rob Underhill called Gouveia's actions 'heinous' and said the case showed Thames Valley Police's commitment to tackling violence against women.
