Simon Levy, 40, from Tottenham in North London, faced trial for allegedly murdering two women and raping a third — but he did not appear in court. Instead, the trial went ahead at the Old Bailey, which is the main criminal court in England, with him absent.

Levy was charged with murdering Sheryl Wilkins, 39, and Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 54, according to BBC News. He was also charged with rape. The Metropolitan Police confirmed one of the charges on 20 November 2025, with one crime scene in Walworth, South London — about ten miles from where Levy lived in Tottenham.

Levy was supposed to appear in court by video-link on 25 November 2025 but did not show up. His case was then moved to the Old Bailey, where the trial continued without him, as BBC News reported.

In England and Wales, it is legal to put someone on trial even if they do not show up to court, as long as they knew about the hearing and have no good reason for missing it. This rule stops people from delaying trials by simply choosing not to appear. However, someone found guilty in this way can appeal later and argue that not being in court made the trial unfair.

The two alleged victims had very different lives in London. Sheryl Wilkins was 39 years old. Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo was 54 and, from her name, likely had Colombian or Latin American roots — though no other details about her have been confirmed. The alleged crimes happened in different parts of London, which suggests police were investigating activity across a wide area before charging Levy.

When police ask the public for information after a murder, it is normal practice. It shows that detectives think there may be witnesses or clues they have not yet found.

Adding a rape charge to murder charges makes things more complicated in terms of the law and the investigation. In England, it is allowed to bring both types of charges against someone in one case when they are connected. How the prosecution will link the crimes — and what a jury will think about it — will be decided at trial.

The fact that Levy did not come to court is now an official part of the case. Judges tell juries they should not assume anything bad about a defendant just because he did not show up. But judges do look closely at the reasons why someone missed court. If Levy is still missing, the police will have issued an arrest warrant for him. Whether he could be brought back from another country depends on where he is, which has not been made public as of 29 June 2026.

This case involves serious charges at the country's most important criminal court. With murder and rape charges, a defendant who did not appear, and many unknowns still to resolve, the case will likely take a long time to move through the courts.