This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/02/ex-bookkeeper-edward-tenniswood-found-guilty-murdering-india-chipchase

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Ex-bookkeeper found guilty of murdering India Chipchase Ex-bookkeeper found guilty of murdering India Chipchase
(about 2 hours later)
A former bookkeeper has been found guilty of murdering a 20-year-old woman he raped and strangled after finding her drunk outside a nightclub. A fantasist who pinned images of women he found attractive to the walls of his squalid home has been sentenced to life with a minimum of 30 years for raping and murdering a 20-year-old woman.
Edward Tenniswood, 52, claimed he had consensual sex with India Chipchase and that her death in his squalid Northampton home in the early hours of 30 January was a result of his “overeagerness” in bed. Edward Tenniswood, 52, described as an “oddball” by his own lawyer, and a friendless loner by his landlord, left India Chipchase with more than 30 injuries after finding her in a drunken state outside NB’s nightclub in Northampton.
He had promised to get her home safe after finding her outside the club. Instead he raped and strangled her, leaving her with more than 30 injuries. Tenniswood, a self-confessed alcoholic and former bookkeeper, told the court Chipchase had gone willingly with him and that they had had consensual sex.
After killing her, Tenniswood told a jury, he “cuddled up” to her lifeless body and then sat and drank in a hotel bar for 22 hours until the police arrested him. But the claim would be one of many lies Tenniswood told the jury, including that he once dated British model Heather Stewart-Whyte, whose image was among the clippings of women found on display in his Northampton home. Stewart-Whyte strongly denied knowing Tenniswood in a statement after the trial.
A Birmingham crown court jury took one hour and 45 minutes to convict Tenniswood, of Northampton, of rape and murder after a two-week trial. The jury at Birmingham crown court took just one hour and 45 minutes to convict Tenniswood of Stanley Road, Northampton, of rape and murder after a two-week trial.
As the verdicts were delivered, Tenniswood looked down and raised his eyebrows before dropping his face into his hands. Sentencing Tenniswood, the judge, Mr Justice Saunders, said: “This was a terrible crime. It was committed because the defendant was determined to satisfy his own sexual desires on an attractive and much younger woman. It was a crime of utter depravity.”
Mr Justice Saunders told him he would be jailed later on Tuesday, when he will the face a mandatory life sentence. Chipchase’s family, who were in the public gallery of the court, wept as the verdict was read to the court. The 20-year-old’s father, Jeremy, and mother, Sue, said the death of their daughter had left a “huge void”.
Chipchase’s family, who were in the public gallery, wept. Her father, Jeremy, said: “I sincerely hope there’s no possibility that another woman ever falls into the hands of my daughter’s murderer.” In a statement, her father said: “I sincerely hope there’s no possibility that another woman ever falls into the hands of my daughter’s murderer.”
The jury had heard that when she met Tenniswood, Chipchase was drunk and upset, according to friends she was out with that night. Tenniswood had promised Chipchase to “get her home safe” after finding her outside the club on 31 January.
Tenniswood would later claim the plan was always to return to his home for a drink. But as Chipchase was led out of the club earlier that night, David Burry, a bouncer, recalled her repeatedly telling him: “I just want to go home.” According to friends she was out with that night, Chipchase was drunk and upset when the chance meeting with Tenniswood occured outside the bar.
Burry took her to a taxi but, according to the driver, she “threw a wobbly” when asked to pay the fare in advance and got out to lean against the nightclub’s wall. Tenniswood would later claim the plan was always to return to his home for a drink.
At 1.11am, Tenniswood arrived, and CCTV showed him turning to look at Chipchase, who was standing alone using her phone before homing in on her minutes later. But as Chipchase was led from the nightclub, bouncer David Burry recalled her repeatedly telling him: “I just want to go home.”
Tenniswood could be seen craning his head over Chipchase and putting his arm around her in what he described as a “paternal way”. A witness overheard him say: “We’ll make sure we get you home in a taxi safely.” The bouncer took her to a taxi cab but, according to the driver, she “threw a wobbly” when asked to pay the fare in advance and got out to lean against the nightclub’s wall.
At 1.11am, Tenniswood arrived at NB’s nightclub, with CCTV showing him turning to look at Chipchase, who was standing alone using her phone, before homing in on her minutes later.
Tenniswood could be seen craning his head over Chipchase and putting his arm around her in what he described as a “paternal way”.
A witness overheard him say: “We’ll make sure we get you home in a taxi safely.”
He led Chipchase, who had almost three times the drink-drive limit of alcohol in her blood, to a waiting cab but kept changing his destination rather than give his address.He led Chipchase, who had almost three times the drink-drive limit of alcohol in her blood, to a waiting cab but kept changing his destination rather than give his address.
At Tenniswood’s home, where almost every inch of floor was covered with newspaper, he raped Chipchase and then “squeezed the life” out of her, the prosecution said. At Tenniswood’s home, where almost every inch of the grim floors was covered with newspaper, he raped his victim with her clothes on and then “squeezed the life” out of her, the prosecution said.
Tenniswood claimed Chipchase had suggested he strangle her and that her death was an accident. He claimed: “I, in my overeagerness to please her, either sustained the pressure just too long or just gripped too tightly.” In his account, Tenniswood said the “kinky” idea to strangle Chipchase had been at her direction and her death was an accident.
However, there were signs of a struggle and Tenniswood’s blood was found under his victim’s fingernails while scratches were found on his neck and arm. He claimed: “I, in my over-eagerness to please her, either sustained the pressure just too long or just gripped too tightly.”
After her death, Tenniswood went for a kebab and then to a nearby hotel where he drank lager. He also accessed a news website showing the widening missing person search for his victim. However, there were signs of a struggle and Tenniswood’s blood was found under his victim’s fingernail while scratches were found on his neck and arm.
He was still in the hotel lobby when officers arrested him on suspicion of murder, after tracing the signal from his victim’s phone to his terrace house. Tenniswood later described “cuddling up” to Chipchase as she lay dead on the mattress claiming he just thought his victim was in a deep sleep or a coma.
Tenniswood told police: “You know who I am – Edward.” He added: “I’m surprised you were so quick, it didn’t take you long to find me.” But instead of raising the alarm, he went to get a kebab and then to a nearby hotel, where he drank lager and even accessed a news website showing the widening missing person search for his victim.
Then he said: “I suppose you’ve been to the house – you’ve found what you’re looking for.” He was still in the hotel lobby when police officers arrested him on suspicion of murder, having traced the signal from his victim’s phone to his terraced house on Stanley Road.
Tenniswood told police: “I’m surprised you were so quick, it didn’t take you long to find me.”
Inside the rucksack he was carrying during his arrest was a kitchen knife and a pair of latex gloves.
Chipchase’s boyfriend, Evaan Reihana, a New Zealander who plays rugby for French club Union Bordeaux Bègles, paid tribute to her in a post on Instagram after her death. Alongside a picture of Chipchase, he wrote: “I honestly can’t believe to think even now that you have left us in that way miss India eve Chipchase!!”
Chipchase was said to be a sports enthusiast and a fan of her local rugby club, Northampton Saints.
During the trial, when Tenniswood was challenged by the prosecutor over his claim he had dated Stewart-Whyte in the late 1980s, he stuck out his hand and said: “I will bet you £100.”
The judge, Mr Justice John Saunders QC, had ordered the press not to report Tenniswood’s claim until the end of the trial for fear any comments on the claim could prejudice the jury.
Giving evidence in his defence, he was asked by his own barrister, Samuel Stein QC, about newspaper cuttings of Stewart-Whyte, the pop group Little Mix and two other women in his kitchen.
Tenniswood said: “These individuals are extremely similar to ex-girlfriends of mine. Rather than just have the whole place covered in dusty dust sheets, they’re ornaments, memories of ex-girlfriends.
During cross-examination, he added: “I’ve had a hugely unsuccessful life but have been very lucky and had some very attractive ex-girlfriends.”
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Stewart-Whyte performed runway shows for Versace, Armani, Saint-Laurent and Lagerfeld. She also modeled for Victoria’s Secret, Christian Dior, and Maybelline. She married French professional tennis player Yannick Noah in 1995 but they divorced four years later.
After the trial, Stewart-Whyte said: “I have recently been made aware of certain allegations made about me during the trial of Edward Tenniswood at Birmingham crown court on charges of rape and murder.
“I can state categorically that I have never knowingly met this man and certainly have never had any kind of relationship with him.
“I’m afraid I cannot offer any explanation for this inaccurate claim.”
She added: “I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sympathies to the family and friends of this beautiful young woman.
“This has been a very distressing experience for my family and friends and I would appreciate that given these unfortunate circumstances my privacy and that of my family will be respected.”