Man admits murdering Microsoft supervisor discovered useless in River Thames

A person has pleaded responsible to murdering a Microsoft supervisor who was discovered drowned subsequent to a personal members’ membership

Nelio Gouveia, 45, appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, October 29, the place he admitted to fatally attacking Jennifer Symonds, 44, in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, on March 6.

Gouveia, of Henley-on-Thames, was remanded in custody by Judge Ian Pringle and can subsequent seem at Oxford Crown Court for sentencing on November 20.

Judge Pringle stated the sentencing listening to will likely be ‘retained by a High Court decide’, Mr Justice Jay – a transfer usually reserved for essentially the most severe offences, usually homicide.

Thames Valley Police launched a homicide investigation after being referred to as to Phyllis Court Drive, subsequent to Phyllis Court Club, a personal members’ membership subsequent to the River Thames.

Gouveia is known to have labored as a kitchen porter on the membership.

Thames Valley Police stated at the moment the pair have been recognized to one another.

A autopsy examination discovered that Ms Symonds died from drowning.

Ms Symonds was seen on CCTV at a Mediterranean-style bistro in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, at 9.05 pm the night time earlier than she was discovered useless, accompanied by a male good friend.

She was seen carrying a full-length black jacket and chatting briefly to a member of workers who tells her that the kitchen had simply closed for the night.

She waves her hand in thanks, turns and leaves.

Her physique was discovered at 7.50 am the next morning inside the grounds of the non-public members’ membership, positioned about half a mile from the restaurant.

Ms Symonds had labored for Microsoft since 2018, in response to LinkedIn.

Her most up-to-date place was senior buyer success account supervisor on the tech agency’s UK headquarters in Reading, however she had been made redundant in January 2025.

A good friend stated: ‘She was discovering it robust to get a brand new job after Microsoft and felt that her life had begun to unravel barely.

‘She informed me that she’d been to courtroom final summer time after accusing a former accomplice of assault, however he ended up being cleared.

‘I feel Jennifer discovered that tough to take as effectively. Recently she’d been struggling together with her psychological well being because of being out of labor.

‘But she was a very pretty, warm-hearted one that liked to speak to folks round city. She was very well-liked.’