JUST IN: 'Britain's Got Talent' singer Simonne Kerr stabbed to death at London residence
Britain's Got Talent singer Simonne Kerr died after she was stabbed at a flat in Battersea, southwest London on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Police were called to the residential address in Grayshott Road, SW11 around 12:38 pm. Officers immediately arrived at the scene accompanied by the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance, but the 31-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene by 1:41 pm.
According to law enforcement, a 40-year-old man named Desmond Sylva was arrested at the scene of the crime. He was charged on Thursday and will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Friday,
Detectives at the department are reportedly continuing to investigate the fatal stabbing but are said to not be looking for anyone else in connection to the murder. Simonne's next-of-kin have been informed of the tragedy.
Simonne used to work as a nurse at Guys and St Thomas Hospital in south London. She appeared on the talent show with the B Positive Choir to encourage blood donations after her young son Kavele died from complications of sickle cell disease in 2015. The group became popular with audiences because of the message in their songs. The group, who even managed to move judge Amanda Holden to tears during their first audition with an incredible rendition of Andra Day's 'Rise Up,' consisted of members who worked to raise awareness of people battling sickle cell donations.
Speaking at the time, Amanda said: "I found the whole thing really moving. Blood donors saved my life, and they're the reason I'm still a mummy to two girls."
In a previous interview, Simonne had spoken about the loss of her son. "Knowing both myself and Kavele's dad were carriers of the sickle cell trait meant that my baby would have a one in four chance of developing the condition," she said.
She continued: "Kavele was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at birth. He had his first sickle at just a few months old. The sickling happened mainly in his tummy, and as he got older, he was hospitalized one or two times a year, usually for a few days at a time."
But tragedy struck again when he was six years old. One morning, he woke up with a high temperature and vomiting. Recalling the day, she had said: "Kavele went into cardiac arrest approximately 20-30 minutes after several ambulance crews started to arrive. He did not recover and passed away in the hospital several hours later."
She went on to join The B Positive Choir because she was passionate about raising awareness of blood conditions like sickle cell disease and wanted more black people to come forward and sign up as blood donors. The group would go on to exit the competition at the semi-final stage but were brought back into the finals thanks to the judges' wild card vote. They finished the season in 11th.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Simonne's family during this difficult time.
