Man appears in court charged with stabbing teacher to death

A man accused of stabbing to death a teacher at house in south London has been remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey. 

Gemma Devonish, who worked as head of year at Rosebery School in Epsom, Surrey, in Nutfield Close, Carshalton, on Thursday. 

James Madden, 38, of Railton Road, Lambeth, appeared via video link at Croydon Magistrates charged with murder. 

Dressed in prison issue grey tracksuit he appeared from Brixton Police station.

Magistrate Lesley Budge order Madden to appear in custody at the Old Bailey Tuesday for his next hearing. 

She told the the accused: ‘You are charged with an indictable only offence, murder. 

‘You will be sent to the Old Bailey tomorrow morning. Until then you will be remanded in custody. 

A service of prayer for Ms Devonish will be held at Epsom Christ Church on Monday. 

In a statement on Facebook church leaders wrote that they were ‘shocked and saddened’ by the teacher’s death. 

They added: ‘There will space for prayer and reflection as we give thanks for Gemma’s life, grieve her loss and pray for her family, friends and students.’

Rosebery School previously said staff and pupils were ‘devastated by the sudden and unexpected death’.

In a statement the school said: ‘Our thoughts are with Gemma’s mother and sister, extended family and friends, at this deeply distressing time.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.