Jilted lover is jailed for murder

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/tyne/6278300.stm

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A man who battered his ex-girlfriend to death and then had sex with the corpse, has been jailed for life.

David Summers, 22, plagued Diane Edwards, 53, for weeks, before he carried out the killing at a house in Blyth, Northumberland last October.

He pleaded guilty to murder and sexual interference with a corpse at Newcastle Crown Court.

The court was told Summers, of Brookside Avenue, Blyth, must serve a minimum of 20 years in prison.

The exact time of death could not be established because Ms Edward's body lay undiscovered for up to a week. But detectives estimated she died at her home in Brierley Road, Blyth, between 19 and 23 October.

The couple had began a sexual relationship in late 2005, but by January 2006 Ms Edwards tried to end their relationship.

Many times he (Summers) has been charged with crimes against Diane, only to be allowed to walk free and continue his reign of terror towards her Diane Edwards' family At the time of the killing, Summers was subject to a restraining order to keep away from Ms Edwards.

A post mortem examination revealed Ms Edwards had died from injuries to her head and body caused by his punches and kicks.

Ms Edwards had twin girls of 15, and a son, 17, who lived with their father in the south of England.

In a statement, Ms Edward's family said: "David Summers has ripped the heart out of our entire family and deprived Diane's three wonderful children of their mother.

"Many times he has appeared before magistrates and been charged with crimes against Diane, only to be allowed to walk free and continue his reign of terror towards her.

"Questions have to be asked as to why, despite the obvious and known danger this man was to Diane, he was not put behind bars."

Det Ch Insp Mick Paterson of Northumbria Police said: "Northumbria Police is committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse and there are excellent systems in place to protect and keep them safe if at all possible.

"We do everything we can to minimise the risk to people in abusive relationships, but we cannot eliminate risk entirely, that's simply not possible.

"In this case, Summers was determined to see Diane, whatever restrictions were in place to stop him doing precisely that.

"Despite this persistent attention, Summers showed no respect or feeling for Diane, not when she was alive, and certainly not after she died."