British society has reacted with shock and dismay to the murder of a 23-year-old woman by her former partner and colleague. According to the BBC, 40-year-old Adedabo Adegbola was found guilty of stabbing Stephanie Irons to death inside her home last October in Nottingham.

Adegbola, who moved to Britain from Nigeria in 2022, admitted to the killing. During the trial, he said his motive was that Irons had decided to end their brief romantic relationship.

“A bright young star had her future taken away”

Local authorities described Irons as “a compassionate and caring young woman” whose life was violently cut short, leaving her family and friends devastated. Shortly after her death, her family released a statement saying that “a bright young star had her future taken away.”

They described her as “a beautiful, loving and caring daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend,” adding: “She had compassion for others and always saw the good in everyone. She had a huge heart.”

The judge in the case confirmed that Adegbola will receive a life sentence, with a decision pending on the minimum term he must serve in prison.

The court heard that on the night of the murder, Irons’ colleagues became alarmed after receiving a series of disturbing messages indicating that something was wrong.

Evidence presented at trial showed that Adegbola fled the scene without calling an ambulance, leaving Irons to die. Police said he traveled to four different cities in an attempt to avoid capture, wearing trainers and a sweatshirt stained with blood, with Hull being the last city he visited. He later returned to Nottingham and handed himself in but refused to answer detectives’ questions during police interviews.

Detective Inspector Barson, who led the investigation, said:

“This is a tragic case in which a caring and compassionate young woman was lost in appalling circumstances. After the attack on Stephanie Irons, Adegbola made no attempt to call an ambulance. His sole concern was fleeing the scene without leaving evidence to incriminate himself.

I want to thank the victim’s family for the incredible strength they have shown throughout this process. I hope this outcome helps them begin to come to terms with their devastating loss.”