Moment woman, 47, who struck her friend 50 times in the head with a claw hammer ‘disposes of murder weapon and blood-stained clothes’ – as she is jailed for at least 16 years

• CCTV shows Svetlana Svedova leaving Ludmila Poletelova’s flat after the attack
• She disposed of bags likely containing the murder weapon and bloody clothes
• Svedova pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced today to at least 16 years 

This is the moment a woman who fatally struck her friend with a claw hammer is believed to have disposed of the murder weapon and blood-stained clothes.

CCTV footage shows Svetlana Svedova, 47, dumping the items in a rubbish bin after hitting 61-year-old Ludmila Poletelova in the head approximately 50 times.

Ms Poletelova was found dead at her home in Lodge Court, Limavady, on April 23 2021 – three days after the ‘brutal and horrific’ attack.

Svedova, who is from Latvia but moved to the County Londonderry town, was filmed carrying two bags and tossing them into a bin about 12 hours after arriving at her friend’s home on April 20, Belfast Crown Court heard.

Prosecutors said they believe the murder weapon was in those bags. 

Svedova pleaded guilty to the murder in December last year and was today told she will spend at least 16 years in prison.

Surveillance video shows the moment a woman who fatally struck her friend with a claw hammer left her victim’s home carrying bags believed to contain the murder weapon and her blood-stained clothes

Ludmila Poletelova (pictured) was found dead at her home in Lodge Court, Limavady, in April 2021 following the ‘brutal and horrific’ attack

Svedova told police she had visited Ms Poletolova’s home (pictured) the day of the murder and they had drunk 12 cans of beer together, but that she had not killed her

A pathologist’s report showed that Ms Poletelova died after sustaining injuries that included multiple skull fractures due to more than 50 blows to the head.

Her body was left lying in her flat until it was discovered about three days later after her employer sent a colleague to her home when she did not turn up for a shift, Mr Justice O’Hara told the court.

During that time, Svedova turned up at work to cover Ms Poletelova’s shift and after that ‘maintained a complete denial of the murder.’

The judge said her death must have been ‘brutal and horrific’.

He told the court that police suspicion quickly fell on Svedova, who turned up at the wine bar to cover her victim’s shift with injuries to her arms.

She subsequently told police she had visited Ms Poletolova’s home and they had drunk 12 cans of beer together but that she had not killed her.

‘I did not kill. I was the last to see her alive,’ Svedova told officers during an interview, BBC reported. She added that she had left Ms Poletelova ‘safe and well’.

A prosecution barrister also noted that Svedova was caught on CCTV arriving at her friend’s home. About 12 hours later cameras captured her carrying two bags that she tossed in a bin.

Additionally, the court was told that Svedova was in rent arrears of £900 and owed Ms Poletelova £800. The day following the murder she paid over £500 to a letting agent, but the defence claimed the funds came from her son. 

The footage shows Svetlana Svedova, 47, (pictured) disposing of the items in a rubbish bin after she struck 61-year-old Ludmila Poletelova in the head approximately 50 times

Svedova (pictured with the bags) pleaded guilty to the murder in December last year. She was told today that she will spend at least 16 years in prison

‘There is little or nothing that can be said for the defendant beyond the fact that she eventually pleaded guilty and in all probability she did not go to Ms Poletolova’s home with the intention of killing her,’ Mr Justice O’Hara said during the sentencing hearing today.

‘What she did, in short, was to beat her so-called friend to death with approximately 50 blows from a hammer.

‘I do not accept there is any real evidence of remorse and none of the sort I would expect from a defendant who had murdered a helpful older friend.’

Mr Justice O’Hara said he had already imposed a life sentence on Svedova but now had to set a minimum tariff on the time she would serve before her case could come before parole commissioners. 

The judge said that, even at the end of the 16-year minimum sentence he set, Svedova’s release is not guaranteed, as that decision will lie with the parole commissioners.

Responding to the sentencing, PSNI Detective Inspector Claire McGarvey said: ‘This was a shocking attack in which Ludmila Poletelova was struck repeatedly, and ferociously, with a hammer.

She added: ‘Ludmila, who was from Latvia, had lived and worked in the town for a number of years.

‘While she kept herself to herself, she was greatly respected and well-liked within the community.

The judge told the court that Ms Poletelova (pictured), a mother and grandmother, had been born in Russia but spent most of her life in Latvia before moving to Northern Ireland in 2009, and had been employed at a wine bar in Limavady

Pictured: Flowers left at the flat off Main Street in Limavady where 61-year-old Ludmila Poletelova was beaten to death

‘I would like to thank local people for their assistance with this investigation. Your support has been invaluable.

‘Furthermore, Ludmila’s family have extended their sincere gratitude to those who initiated and supported fundraising to allow Ludmila’s body to be returned to her native Latvia.

‘Today my thoughts are with Ludmila’s two sons and two grandchildren who remain heartbroken and distraught by the loss of, and level of violence inflicted upon, their loved one.

‘Indeed, their torment was prolonged by the defendant’s delay in pleading guilty. This was a senseless, cruel and brutal loss of an innocent life.’

The judge also told the court that Ms Poletelova, a mother and grandmother, had been born in Russia but spent most of her life in Latvia before moving to Northern Ireland in 2009, and had been employed at a wine bar in Limavady.

He said: ‘Ms Poletolova was a lady who helped fellow Latvians and eastern Europeans who were struggling in Northern Ireland.

‘Over several years she assisted some and helped others to find accommodation.’

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