NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock after a “happy and friendly” mother was strangled to death in her Cricklewood home.

The body of Usha Patel, 44, was discovered at her home in Melrose Avenue last Thursday (October 8).

Miles Donnelly, 34, also known as Miles Ryan, has been charged with her murder and assault.

Sali Aboudali, 42, said her children went to school with Ms Patel's five-year-old son.

She said: “She was happy and friendly. We used to listen to her singing all the time. All of the road knew her. She was very friendly.”

Flowers have been left taped to the gate outside the semi-detached block of flats where Ms Patel lived.

Ms Aboudali added: “On Thursday, when we were going to school, we saw the police and the ambulance. We thought someone was sick. I was shocked when I heard.

“I was very upset because she was a very smiley lady. Her picture is not gone from my mind.”

Ms Patel was a full time carer for her son, who would spend weekends with his father, Ms Aboudali said.

John Fahy, 64, of Melrose Avenue, said: “It was Friday evening I heard about it from my neighbours. I was shocked. It is a very quiet street. All my neighbours were shocked too, it is an awful thing to hear somebody has been killed in your neighbour.

“It is terrible. You don’t expect it to happen. It has left the whole street in shock.”

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “I felt terrible. I was really upset about it. You never expect anything like this to happen on your own doorstep. She did not deserve to die.

“She was here eight or nine years. She would say hello, and she had a lovely smile.”

Mark Troop, 58, who has lived in the street for 20 years, said: “It is very friendly round here. People stand around outside their homes, talking. There is quite a lot of street life. It was shocking to hear about.”

Donnelly appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court yesterday, and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey tomorrow (October 14).