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Murder accused wrote to Sadie Hartley before fatally stabbing her, court hears Murder accused wrote to Sadie Hartley before killing her, court told
(35 minutes later)
A woman “consumed with hatred” after the breakdown of an affair wrote a letter taunting her love rival just over a year before she stabbed her to death, a court has heard.A woman “consumed with hatred” after the breakdown of an affair wrote a letter taunting her love rival just over a year before she stabbed her to death, a court has heard.
Sarah Williams, 35, and Katrina Walsh, 56, are both jointly standing trial for the murder of Sadie Hartley in January this year. The pair, who have both denied the murder, will seek to blame each other for the crime, Preston crown court heard.Sarah Williams, 35, and Katrina Walsh, 56, are both jointly standing trial for the murder of Sadie Hartley in January this year. The pair, who have both denied the murder, will seek to blame each other for the crime, Preston crown court heard.
Mother of two Sadie Hartley, 60, was paralysed with a stun gun before being knifed at least 40 times by the “obsessive and jealous” Williams, 35, who decided she “had to go” so she could rekindle a relationship with Hartley’s partner, Ian Johnston, the jury was told. Sadie Hartley, 60, a mother of two, was paralysed with a stun gun before being knifed at least 40 times by the “obsessive and jealous” Williams, 35, who decided she “had to go” so she could rekindle a relationship with Hartley’s partner, Ian Johnston, the jury was told.
Prosecutors have said that in an “act of complete spitefulness” Williams wrote a letter to businesswoman Hartley, describing the “fantastic sex” she had with her partner during a year long affair. Prosecutors have said that in an “act of complete spitefulness” Williams wrote a letter to businesswoman Hartley, describing the “fantastic sex” she had with her partner during a year-long affair.
The court previously heard that Williams had an affair with Johnston, 57, but he left her after she became “possessive and difficult”. However, Williams harboured a “delusional hope of a dream life with her ideal man” and allegedly spent 17 months plotting the “planned assassination” of Hartley, who she viewed as an “obstacle”, with her friend, Walsh.The court previously heard that Williams had an affair with Johnston, 57, but he left her after she became “possessive and difficult”. However, Williams harboured a “delusional hope of a dream life with her ideal man” and allegedly spent 17 months plotting the “planned assassination” of Hartley, who she viewed as an “obstacle”, with her friend, Walsh.
Prosecutor John McDermott, who read the letter to the jury, said: “She told Sadie Hartley that she and Ian had enjoyed a sexual relationship for over a year. The sex – she said – was the best he’d ever had.Prosecutor John McDermott, who read the letter to the jury, said: “She told Sadie Hartley that she and Ian had enjoyed a sexual relationship for over a year. The sex – she said – was the best he’d ever had.
“She accused her of buying him and trapping him but, she said, you can’t win love with blackmail. She told her he had no respect, desire, love or affection for her.”“She accused her of buying him and trapping him but, she said, you can’t win love with blackmail. She told her he had no respect, desire, love or affection for her.”
In the letter, Williams claimed that Johnson was “lying to you, cheating and sleeping with me behind your back” and she said the affair “was not a one-off, an accident or mistake or any other form of excuse”.In the letter, Williams claimed that Johnson was “lying to you, cheating and sleeping with me behind your back” and she said the affair “was not a one-off, an accident or mistake or any other form of excuse”.
Prosecutors said the letter, sent in September 2014, failed to win Johnston back and he moved back in with Hartley the following November. Tthe court heard that after the affair ended, Williams allegedly recruited Walsh as an accomplice, and they plotted the “perfect murder” together. Walsh kept a detailed diary of their plans. Prosecutors said the letter, sent in September 2014, failed to win Johnston back and he moved back in with Hartley the following November. The court heard that after the affair ended, Williams allegedly recruited Walsh as an accomplice, and they plotted the “perfect murder” together. Walsh kept a detailed diary of their plans.
Williams, who worked at the Chill Factore dry ski slope in Manchester where Johnston was a regular customer, allegedly spent more than a year planning to kill Hartley, who ran her own medical communications company. Williams recruited Walsh, a horse riding instructor, in 2014 and allegedly carried out the murder on 14 January 14 when they knew Johnston, a former fireman, was in Switzerland skiing. Williams, who worked at the Chill Factore dry ski slope in Manchester where Johnston was a regular customer, allegedly spent more than a year planning to kill Hartley, who ran her own medical communications company. Williams recruited Walsh, a horse riding instructor, in 2014 and allegedly carried out the murder on 14 January when they knew Johnston, a former firefighter, was in Switzerland skiing.
The court was told that diaries kept by Walsh showed how the “determined killers” hatched the plot, buying binoculars, untraceable burner phones, size 10 men’s boots, a knife, a Taser and even a Renault Clio car, paid for with cash.The court was told that diaries kept by Walsh showed how the “determined killers” hatched the plot, buying binoculars, untraceable burner phones, size 10 men’s boots, a knife, a Taser and even a Renault Clio car, paid for with cash.
The prosecution said the two women went on reconnaissance missions before the attack, scouting out their victim’s home, putting a tracking device on Johnston’s car to find out where Hartley lived and travelling to Germany to buy a stun gun. Mobile phone evidence and CCTV footage showed how Williams allegedly spied on Hartley for weeks before the murder. The prosecution said the two women went on reconnaissance missions before the attack, scouting out their victim’s home, putting a tracking device on Johnston’s car to find out where Hartley lived, and travelling to Germany to buy a stun gun. Mobile phone evidence and CCTV footage allegedly showed how Williams spied on Hartley for weeks before the murder.
The prosecution allege the pair considered a drive-by hit on a motorcycle and planting an Islamic State flag at the crime scene “to mislead the investigation”. The prosecution alleges the pair considered a drive-by hit on a motorcycle and planting an Islamic State flag at the crime scene “to mislead the investigation”.
In the days before the murder, Walsh used her Tesco club card to purchase the large kitchen knife used in the killing and Williams bought the men’s boots, which prosecutors say would become vital evidence for police as marks in blood at the scene of the attack allegedly match the tread of the footwear. In the days before the murder, the court heard, Walsh used her Tesco club card to purchase the large kitchen knife used in the killing and Williams bought the men’s boots, which prosecutors say would become vital evidence for police as marks in blood at the scene of the attack allegedly match the tread of the footwear.
On the night of the attack – described as an “explosion of violence” – the victim had been horse riding before she travelled to her £500,000 home in her Audi “blithely unaware of her forthcoming fate”, as Williams also approached Helmshore. On the night of the attack – described as an “explosion of violence” – the victim had been horse riding before she travelled to her £500,000 home in her Audi “blithely unaware of her forthcoming fate”, as Williams also approached Helmshore, the court heard.
Hartley’s neighbour, Frank Unsworth, gave police a detailed description of an athletic woman with dark, wavy unkept hair dressed in walking gear. Prosecutors argued that the description matched that of Williams, and not Walsh, who was described as being “stocky” and “butch-looking”. Hartley’s neighbour Frank Unsworth gave police a detailed description of an athletic woman with dark, wavy unkempt hair dressed in walking gear. Prosecutors argued that the description matched that of Williams, and not Walsh, who was described as being “stocky” and “butch-looking”.
After the attack, Williams allegedly drove back to Cheshire and met Walsh in a car park near her home. The court heard she tried to clean the inside of the Clio and then abandoned the car before the pair drove away together, ditching their phones. Walsh was then allegedly given the task of destroying the evidence, but the prosecution claimed that she did not carry out these orders correctly.After the attack, Williams allegedly drove back to Cheshire and met Walsh in a car park near her home. The court heard she tried to clean the inside of the Clio and then abandoned the car before the pair drove away together, ditching their phones. Walsh was then allegedly given the task of destroying the evidence, but the prosecution claimed that she did not carry out these orders correctly.
McDermott said: “Sarah Williams will have counted on her co-conspirator hiding these things forever. She miscalculated.”McDermott said: “Sarah Williams will have counted on her co-conspirator hiding these things forever. She miscalculated.”
Clothes allegedly used in the attack were only partially burned and other incriminating items including the boots, knife, stun gun and keys to the Clio were hidden under manure in one of the horses’ fields at Walsh’s stables, rather than destroyed. A towel used to clean the steering wheel of the Clio was hidden in a tack room and Walsh’s diaries were placed in the eaves of the same building.Clothes allegedly used in the attack were only partially burned and other incriminating items including the boots, knife, stun gun and keys to the Clio were hidden under manure in one of the horses’ fields at Walsh’s stables, rather than destroyed. A towel used to clean the steering wheel of the Clio was hidden in a tack room and Walsh’s diaries were placed in the eaves of the same building.
After Walsh’s arrest four days after the murder, she led the police to Collinge Farm,where she was a horse riding instructor, and handed over not only her diaries – “detailing the whole dreadful plan”– but also incriminating evidence from the scene. After Walsh’s arrest four days after the murder, she led the police to Collinge Farm, where she was a horse riding instructor, and handed over not only her diaries – “detailing the whole dreadful plan” – but also incriminating evidence from the scene.
After their arrests, Walsh told police and medical professionals that she was “petrified” of Williams who had a “manic fascination for Ian Johnston”.After their arrests, Walsh told police and medical professionals that she was “petrified” of Williams who had a “manic fascination for Ian Johnston”.
Describing herself as a “patsy” for Williams, she went on to tell police that she thought she was taking part in a game for the Channel 4 programme Hunted, in which people tried to avoid detection from trackers.Describing herself as a “patsy” for Williams, she went on to tell police that she thought she was taking part in a game for the Channel 4 programme Hunted, in which people tried to avoid detection from trackers.
Williams, of Treborth Road, Chester, and Walsh, of Hare Lane, Chester, deny murder. The trial continues.Williams, of Treborth Road, Chester, and Walsh, of Hare Lane, Chester, deny murder. The trial continues.