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Jordan Taylor trial: Guilty verdict in Laura Davies murder | Jordan Taylor trial: Guilty verdict in Laura Davies murder |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend 80 times in a "brutal" attack fuelled by "jealous rage" has been convicted of her murder. | |
Laura Davies, 21, was attacked near the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society base in Basildon, where she lived and worked. | |
Jordan Taylor, 22, of Basildon, denied murder but was found guilty by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court. | Jordan Taylor, 22, of Basildon, denied murder but was found guilty by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court. |
Miss Davies had ended their relationship moments before her death. | |
Follow live updates on this story and other Essex news | Follow live updates on this story and other Essex news |
During an eight-day trial, Taylor told the court he stabbed Miss Davies twice in the stomach after she "pulled a knife" on him. | |
He said he had been trying to defend himself when she began punching and kicking him, and he stabbed her "so the attack would stop". | He said he had been trying to defend himself when she began punching and kicking him, and he stabbed her "so the attack would stop". |
But he told the court he could not remember most of the attack and had denied murder. | |
Afterwards, he was found hiding in bushes near her body and was arrested and later charged. | |
The weapon, a kitchen knife, had been used with such force it was bent to a 45-degree angle. | |
The court heard the pair had been together since December 2014 and Taylor had moved into the flat which came with Miss Davies' job as a groom at the sanctuary. | |
On the evening of the attack on 3 July last year, she had told friends she planned to end the relationship. | |
A member of the public reported seeing a man stabbing a woman, and police were called to the sanctuary in Pitsea Hall Lane at about 20:15 BST. | |
Miss Davies died later that night at Basildon Hospital. | |
Speaking after the verdict, Punam Malhan, senior district crown prosecutor for the East of England Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This was a vicious and sustained attack involving 80 separate wounds. | |
"Jordan Taylor's actions were a result of a jealous rage after Laura ended their relationship." | |
Judge Charles Gratwicke told Taylor: "You have been found guilty of a brutal and vicious killing. | Judge Charles Gratwicke told Taylor: "You have been found guilty of a brutal and vicious killing. |
"You can expect to receive a substantial sentence." | "You can expect to receive a substantial sentence." |
Taylor will be sentenced on Friday. |