A MAN has admitted murdering a Venezuelan bank worker just a week after they moved into the same flat.

Ryan Justin Thornton, 20, appeared at Winchester Crown Court today and entered a guilty plea to killing 34-year-old Stela Marisabel Domador-Kuzma in her bedroom on Sunday, July 8.

Officers were called at around 5am by the ambulance service to the area of Richmond Hill in response to reports that a man – later identified as Thornton – had been found with stab wounds to his leg.

Police then found Ms Domador-Kuzma's body in her flat at Richmond Gardens. A knife was recovered from the scene.

Thornton was arrested on suspicion of Ms Domador-Kuzma's murder and later charged.

A post-mortem examination found she died of stab wounds.

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Ms Domador-Kuzma had been living and working in the UK for four years and at the time of her murder was renting a room in a flat in Richmond Gardens.

She shared the kitchen, bathroom and toilet facilities with Thornton and another woman.

Thornton had moved into his room on Friday, June 22, and Ms Domador-Kuzma had moved into hers on Friday, June 29.

The victim had fled soaring crime rates in Venezuela in search of a better life.

In a moving statement released after her death, her family paid tribute to a woman much admired for her"sense of humour, work ethic and big heart".

"You made the difficult decision of leaving your home country and family behind in the hope of finding a new future in a place where peace and justice existed," they said.

"You made Bournemouth your new home despite the cold weather as you fell in love with its beautiful landscape and beach.

"You soldiered on through the British summer with a jacket and scarf, jokes and a big smile on your face."

Thornton was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the same court on a date yet to be fixed.