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Martial arts enthusiast guilty of murder of ex-girlfriend at horse sanctuary Martial arts enthusiast guilty of murder of ex-girlfriend at horse sanctuary
(about 1 hour later)
A jealous and controlling martial arts enthusiast has been found guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend in a brutal attack. A jealous and controlling martial arts enthusiast has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend moments after she told him she was ending their relationship.
Laura Davies, 21, died after the attack at the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society base in Basildon, Essex, where she lived and worked as a groom. Laura Davies, 21, suffered at least 80 stab wounds in the attack at the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society base in Basildon, where she lived and worked as a groom, in July last year. Chelmsford crown court heard that the attack was so forceful that the knife used was bent to a 45-degree angle.
Chelmsford crown court heard she suffered at least 80 stab wounds and the attack was so forceful that the knife used was bent to a 45-degree angle. Unemployed Jordan Taylor, 22, denied the murder but was found guilty by a jury on Thursday. He will be sentenced on Friday.
Unemployed Jordan Taylor, 22, had denied the murder on 3 July last year but was found guilty by a jury on Thursday. He will be sentenced on Friday. The court heard that Davies cooked a meal for Taylor in the flat they shared and told him that although the relationship was over he could continue living there as she did not want to make him homeless.
The court heard Davies ended their relationship moments before her death. Prosecutors said the attack began inside the flat and then continued outside as she tried to flee in her pyjamas. CCTV footage showed the defendant attempting to hoist Davies’ near-lifeless body over a hedge out of view.
She had cooked a meal for Taylor in the flat they shared and told him that although the relationship was over, he could continue living there as she did not want to make him homeless. Her family said she had been unhappy after he had begun telling her what to wear, prevented her from going out and taken control of her bank account. Her mother, Dyanne Lambert, told the court that Taylor would not allow Davies to wear short-sleeved or low-cut tops, and they would often argue.
Prosecutors said the attack began in the flat then continued outside as she fled in her pyjamas. CCTV footage showed the defendant attempting to hoist Davies’ near-lifeless body over a hedge out of view. “She became very quiet and didn’t want to talk about what was going on,” Lambert said.
Her family said she had been unhappy after he had begun telling her what to wear, prevented her going out and had taken control of her bank account. Giving evidence on the third day of his trial, Taylor alleged that his partner of six months had lunged at him with the knife and he had “stupidly” grabbed it.
Giving evidence, her mother Dyanne Lambert said he would not allow her to wear short-sleeved or low-cut tops and they would often argue. He denied purposefully making disfiguring cuts to Davies’ face and left breast as “punishment” for trying to end the relationship before eventually killing her.
Lambert added: “She became very quiet and didn’t want to talk about what was going on.” Punam Malhan, senior district crown prosecutor for 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. His actions have needlessly ended a young woman’s life and robbed her of any future.
Giving evidence on the third day of his trial, Taylor – who was born in Carlisle before moving to Annan in Scotland and Swindon – described the moment he “stupidly” grabbed the knife he alleged his partner of six months had lunged at him with. “We are committed to bringing cases of domestic violence to court and to securing a conviction; in this case it means Taylor will spend many years behind bars for this horrific attack. Laura’s family, friends and work colleagues all spoke of a beautiful young woman who loved her work with animals at the sanctuary and we hope the conviction of Mr Taylor for her murder brings some comfort to them in their loss.”
He denied purposefully making “disfiguring” cuts to Davies’ face and left breast as “punishment” for trying to end the relationship before eventually killing her.
Punam Malhan, senior district crown prosecutor for 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. His actions have needlessly ended a young woman’s life and robbed her of any future.
“We are committed to bringing cases of domestic violence to court and to securing a conviction; in this case it means Taylor will spend many years behind bars for this horrific attack.
“Laura’s family, friends and work colleagues all spoke of a beautiful young woman who loved her work with animals at the sanctuary and we hope the conviction of Mr Taylor for her murder brings some comfort to them in their loss.”