Man appears in court accused of murder of 'wonderful' teacher stabbed to death in south London

23 December 2024, 18:25 | Updated: 23 December 2024, 19:20

Gemma
Gemma Devonish was found with stab wounds at an address in Nutfield Close, Carshalton. Picture: MPS

By Flaminia Luck

A man has appeared in court accused of murdering a 42-year-old teacher in south London.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

James Madden is charged over the death of Gemma Devonish, who was found with stab wounds at an address in Nutfield Close, Carshalton, at around 10.30am on Thursday.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and Ms Devonish, a teacher at Rosebery School, an all-girls secondary in Epsom, Surrey, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Metropolitan Police added.

Madden appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court via video-link from Brixton police station on Monday.

The 38-year-old defendant, in a grey sweatshirt, did not confirm his name and officers with him confirmed his identity on his behalf.

Lesley Budge, chair of a bench of magistrates, said: "Mr Madden you are charged with an indictable only offence, a matter which can't be dealt with in this court."

Madden, of Railton Road, Brixton, was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

R
The head of Rosebery School said: "Her loss to our school is incalculable". Picture: Google

'Incredible legacy'

The head of Rosebery School, David Lach, paid tribute to Ms Devonish, calling her "the kindest and most gentle of people", who was "devoted to her work and loved her students at Rosebery so very much".

"She was a wonderful teacher who inspired a love of her subject among all her students and went above and beyond to offer her time, expertise and care to the students in her classes and in her year group," Mr Lach said.

"Her loss to our school is incalculable, but she leaves the most incredible legacy in the hundreds of students that have been touched by her energy, passion and empathy.

"The hearts of the Rosebery community will be broken by this awful news, but the strength of our school has always been the way we have supported each other in times of adversity."

The school also said on their website: "The entire Rosebery community is devastated by the sudden and unexpected death of Miss Gemma Devonish. 

"Our thoughts are with Gemma's mother and sister, extended family and friends, at this deeply distressing time.

Read more: Assad’s British wife ‘to divorce dictator and move back to UK after becoming unhappy with life in Moscow exile'

Read more: Morrisons Christmas shopping chaos as ‘server goes down’, customers can’t access orders and discounts not working

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Emergency ambulances waiting outside the Whittington Hospital in Archway, Islington, London, UK

Patients miss vital prescription medicine while waiting in A&E - with long waiting times making things worse

Outrage as rescued surfer sets up fundraiser for new wetsuit - rather than RNLI

Outrage as rescued surfer sets up fundraiser for new wetsuit - rather than RNLI

Police officer driving van that followed two teens before fatal e-bike crash will not face charges

Police officer driving van that followed two teens before fatal e-bike crash will not face charges

Boris Johnson bitten by ostrich at safari park

Watch as Boris Johnson swears loudly as he is attacked by ostrich

'Con Mum' has been charged with fraud

British 'Con Mum', 84, charged with £115k fraud after being accused of massive scam on son in Netflix doc

Exclusive
James Reed

Redundancies 'a clear and present danger', top recruiter warns, as 'jobs tax' kicks in and tariffs spark market chaos

Markets have been plunged into turmoil by Trump's tariffs

'Economic nuclear winter' ahead if US doesn't axe tariffs, Trump-backing billionaire warns as markets plunge again

Hollywood icon Mickey Rourke and Tory MP Michael Fabricant to join all-star Celebrity Big Brother line-up

Hollywood icon Mickey Rourke and Tory MP Michael Fabricant to join all-star Celebrity Big Brother line-up

Keiron Charles

Two teenage boys charged with murder after 17-year-old boy stabbed to death in west London

John's loveable character Charlie kicked off a whirlwind romance with Rovers Return landlady Bet Gilroy (played by Julie Goodyear)

Coronation Street star's sudden death at 72 - as family pay tribute to 'gentleman' actor

LBC News launches new weekday schedule with new presenter line-up

LBC News launches new weekday schedule with new presenter line-up

Heidi Alexander has said that smoking crack cocaine on the Tube is 'unacceptable'

'Smoking crack cocaine on the Tube is unacceptable', Transport Secretary says as shocking images surface

David Beckham & LA Galaxy Visits Shanghai

David Beckham's former bodyguard Craig Ainsworth found dead in Spain following hunt for war veteran

FTSE 100 dropped again on opening

FTSE plummets 6% after Trump refuses to back down on tariffs, with global markets in turmoil

Exclusive
Google search for UK jobs.

Job postings down nearly a quarter amid fears over Employer National Insurance rise

A construction worker in the new Silvertown Tunnel in east London. The first new road crossing east of London's Tower Bridge in 33 years opens on Monday.

Long-awaited Silvertown Tunnel opens to drivers in London