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Facebook reunion murder: David Hoyle killed Rebecca Bamber | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man has been convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend after rekindling their relationship on Facebook. | A man has been convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend after rekindling their relationship on Facebook. |
David Hoyle, of Idle Road in Bradford, hit Rebecca Bamber, 43, with wine bottles at her Widnes home in June then repeatedly stabbed her as she fled. | |
Chester Crown Court heard Hoyle left the scene calmly after the attack and smiled at a neighbour who was calling 999 while trying to help Ms Bamber. | Chester Crown Court heard Hoyle left the scene calmly after the attack and smiled at a neighbour who was calling 999 while trying to help Ms Bamber. |
Hoyle, 39, was given a life sentence and will serve at least 25 years. | Hoyle, 39, was given a life sentence and will serve at least 25 years. |
Hoyle, who previously had a 15-year relationship with Ms Bamber, contacted her in May through the social networking site. | |
Screams | |
After they spent the night together at her Mersey Road home, he attacked her. | |
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Ms Bamber's neighbour raised the alarm after hearing screams coming from her house. | |
He saw the 43-year-old at her window, covered in blood and mouthing "phone the police". | |
The neighbour called 999 and went to the back of her house, where he found Hoyle in the garden standing over Ms Bamber with a knife. | |
He rushed back to his own house to find something to defend himself with but, when he returned, Hoyle had gone. | |
He then saw Hoyle drive away in his van, who then "chillingly" smiled at him, the CPS said. | |
The court was shown CCTV footage of the scene, which showed Hoyle leaving calmly while Ms Bamber's neighbour was on the phone to the emergency services. | |
A recording of the 999 call was also played to the jury, in which the man can be heard trying to comfort Ms Bamber, saying: "It's all right Becky, I'm here, the police are on their way, it's all right darling, stay awake." | |
Police caught up with Hoyle near Runcorn Bridge, but he rammed their vehicles and escaped on to the M56, where he was again stopped before being Tasered. | |
Following his arrest, Hoyle made no comment at interview. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the CPS insisted he be tried for murder. | |
Speaking after sentencing on Wednesday, prosecutor Richard Riley said Hoyle's claim that he had not meant to kill Ms Bamber was "ridiculous". | |
"Hoyle subjected Ms Bamber to a brutal and sustained attack and clearly intended to do her really serious harm. | |
"She'd been stabbed 11 times with two different knives and three broken bottles." | |
'No remorse' | |
He thanked the neighbour "for the courage he showed throughout this dreadful incident". | |
"His 999 call was the key to putting a very dangerous man behind bars," he said. | |
Det Insp Helen Spooner from Cheshire Police led the investigation. She said Hoyle had "shown no remorse". | |
"We will probably never know the real reason behind Hoyle′s actions that day − only he knows why he subjected Rebecca to such a brutal attack in her own home," she added. | |
Ms Bamber's family issued a statement after the sentencing, saying: "We still find it difficult to believe that Rebecca has been taken from us in such a cruel and violent way. Not only has a mother been taken, but a sister and daughter too. | |
"It is difficult for us all to come to terms with what actually happened but, as a family, we hope that the conclusion of this court case will allow us some closure as we try to rebuild our lives and move forward." |
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