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| Man murdered woman while on bail | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man has pleaded guilty to the sexual assault and murder of a woman, eight days after he was released on police bail over separate rape allegations. | |
| The body of Stacey Westbury, 23, was found at her home in Fulham, west London, on 17 August 2007. | The body of Stacey Westbury, 23, was found at her home in Fulham, west London, on 17 August 2007. |
| Christopher Braithwaite, 22, of Shepherd's Bush, west London, was arrested the following day. | Christopher Braithwaite, 22, of Shepherd's Bush, west London, was arrested the following day. |
| The judge said a series of rape charges in relation to other victims should be allowed to lie on file. | The judge said a series of rape charges in relation to other victims should be allowed to lie on file. |
| Miss Westbury was alone in her flat with her 10-month-old son in his cot when Braithwaite carried out his attack. | |
| She was discovered by her father, Kenneth Westbury, nearly 24 hours later. | |
| He said the day he found her body would "haunt me for the rest of my life". | He said the day he found her body would "haunt me for the rest of my life". |
| He said he had felt "the most awful pain" but also "white hot rage" because of what had happened to her. | He said he had felt "the most awful pain" but also "white hot rage" because of what had happened to her. |
| "I feel so guilty I was not there to protect my little girl," he added. | "I feel so guilty I was not there to protect my little girl," he added. |
| Braithwaite attacked his victim while she was alone in her flat | Braithwaite attacked his victim while she was alone in her flat |
| Her mother Lorraine said their grandson had nightmares and became hysterical if strangers came to the house. | Her mother Lorraine said their grandson had nightmares and became hysterical if strangers came to the house. |
| Prosecutor Victor Temple QC said the crime was "a particularly grave sexually-motivated murder". | Prosecutor Victor Temple QC said the crime was "a particularly grave sexually-motivated murder". |
| "This defendant, addicted to crack cocaine, carried out a violent sexual assault on a defenceless young woman which in turn involved an element of sexual abuse accompanied by strangulation," Mr Temple added. | "This defendant, addicted to crack cocaine, carried out a violent sexual assault on a defenceless young woman which in turn involved an element of sexual abuse accompanied by strangulation," Mr Temple added. |
| A post-mortem examination also found she had been stabbed. | A post-mortem examination also found she had been stabbed. |
| He said that after the killing Braithwaite did nothing to alert anyone to the presence of a baby on its own in the flat, and that he returned after the murder to steal a telephone, some jewellery and a pedal bike. | He said that after the killing Braithwaite did nothing to alert anyone to the presence of a baby on its own in the flat, and that he returned after the murder to steal a telephone, some jewellery and a pedal bike. |
| Mr Temple said after Braithwaite was arrested over claims of rape and false imprisonment on 9 August he was questioned and released on police bail. | Mr Temple said after Braithwaite was arrested over claims of rape and false imprisonment on 9 August he was questioned and released on police bail. |
| Disadvantaged family | Disadvantaged family |
| "There were, of course, possible potential allegations to be charged against him," he said. "He wasn't charged at the time." | "There were, of course, possible potential allegations to be charged against him," he said. "He wasn't charged at the time." |
| Braithwaite was subsequently charged over alleged rape, but the charges, and others relating to another woman, were all allowed to lie on file. | |
| The charges include rape, false imprisonment and actual bodily harm, involving "manual strangulation". | The charges include rape, false imprisonment and actual bodily harm, involving "manual strangulation". |
| Oliver Blunt QC, defending, said Braithwaite was suffering from a personality disorder, worsened by his use of drugs and that came from a "somewhat disadvantaged family". | Oliver Blunt QC, defending, said Braithwaite was suffering from a personality disorder, worsened by his use of drugs and that came from a "somewhat disadvantaged family". |
| Braithwaite had a previous conviction for wounding after he stabbed a man in 2005. | Braithwaite had a previous conviction for wounding after he stabbed a man in 2005. |
| Braithwaite pleaded guilty to murder and sexual penetration without consent and will be sentenced later. | Braithwaite pleaded guilty to murder and sexual penetration without consent and will be sentenced later. |