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Gloucester man jailed for murdering wife and stepdaughter Gloucester man jailed for murdering wife and stepdaughter
(35 minutes later)
An electrical engineer has been jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 29 years in prison for murdering his wife and 11-year-old stepdaughter in an episode of “wanton savagery”. A man has been jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 29 years in prison for murdering his wife and stepdaughter in an episode of “wanton savagery”.
Christopher Boon, 28, stabbed wife Laura Mortimer and her daughter Ella Dalby multiple times in the kitchen of their home in Dexter Way, Gloucester, on 28 May. Christopher Boon, 28, stabbed Laura Mortimer and her daughter Ella Dalby multiple times in the kitchen of their home in Dexter Way, Gloucester, on 28 May.
One of Boon’s arms was in plaster at the time, as 10 days earlier he had punched a hole in a wall after Mortimer said she wanted a divorce, telling her “that was meant for your face”.One of Boon’s arms was in plaster at the time, as 10 days earlier he had punched a hole in a wall after Mortimer said she wanted a divorce, telling her “that was meant for your face”.
Bristol crown court heard Mortimer “fought for her life” after being attacked by Boon, with daughter Ella coming downstairs to help her. Bristol crown court heard Mortimer “fought for her life” after being attacked by Boon, with Ella, 11, going downstairs to help her. Mortimer had 18 stab wounds, including 13 to her face and neck; Ella had 24 stab wounds over her body.
She suffered 18 stab wounds, including 13 to her face and neck, while Ella had 24 separate stab wounds over her body. The pair had several injuries from where they had tried to protect themselves from Boon’s “unspeakable savagery”, Mrs Justice May said.
Both mother and daughter had several injuries from where they had tried to protect themselves from Boon’s “unspeakable savagery”, Mrs Justice May said. “Blood found on Ella’s feet leads to the inference that she must have come in when her mother was already bleeding,” the high court judge told Boon. “She would have witnessed some part of your murderous attack on her mother and tried to stop you before you turned the knife on her.
“Blood found on Ella’s feet leads to the inference that she must have come in when her mother was already bleeding,” the high court judge told Boon. “What a brave girl. She and her mother were found lying together, side by side, when they died. Your wanton savagery has blighted the lives of many for ever.”
“She would have witnessed some part of your murderous attack on her mother and tried to stop you before you turned the knife on her.
“What a brave girl. She and her mother were found lying together, side by side when they died. Your wanton savagery has blighted the lives of many for ever.”
The judge said Boon had committed the murders in “an act of selfish rage and cruelty”.The judge said Boon had committed the murders in “an act of selfish rage and cruelty”.
He had previously been sentenced to nine months’ prison, suspended for two years, after being convicted of assault, battery and criminal damage on a previous partner and her mother in 2010. Boon, an electrical engineer, had previously been sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, after being convicted of assault, battery and criminal damage on a previous partner and her mother in 2010.
Richard Smith QC told the court Boon and Mortimer had been married for five years, with Ella living with them in their home. Richard Smith QC told the court Boon and Mortimer had been married for five years and Ella lived with them.
On Boxing Day in 2014, Mortimer had run to a neighbours’ house wearing only her underwear and in a “hysterical” state and claimed Boon had hit her, Smith said. On Boxing Day in 2014, Mortimer had run to a neighbours’ house in a “hysterical” state wearing only her underwear and claimed Boon had hit her, Smith said.
Police were contacted but Mortimer did not support her husband being prosecuted. Police were contacted but Mortimer did not support her husband being prosecuted. “It is clear that this defendant has a temper,” Smith said.
“It is clear that this defendant has a temper,” Smith said.
The following year, Boon shouted that one of Mortimer’s friends and her family should “watch their backs” after they told her he had been seen out.The following year, Boon shouted that one of Mortimer’s friends and her family should “watch their backs” after they told her he had been seen out.
At the beginning of 2018, Boon had an affair and the woman involved contacted Ms Mortimer to inform her. At the beginning of 2018, Boon had an affair and the woman involved contacted Mortimer to inform her. Friends told police that Boon was abusive towards Ella.
Friends told police that Boon was abusive towards Ella. On 17 May, Mortimer told a friend she had to leave her home after Boon “went for her” and she said she wanted a divorce. “Boon had then punched a hole in a wall and told Laura: ‘That was meant for your face’,” Mr Smith said.
On 17 May, Ms Mortimer told a friend she had to leave her home after Boon “went for her” and she said she wanted a divorce. Ten days later, Mortimer went to the pub with friends and said her husband was not happy as she had asked him to leave the house within two weeks. She arrived home at 1.10am and spoke to an aunt on FaceTime at 1.18am.
“Boon had then punched a hole in a wall and told Laura: ‘That was meant for your face’,” Mr Smith said. “Some time in the following three hours, the defendant attacked and killed both his wife and her daughter Ella,” Smith said. “Having heard matters dramatically unfold in the kitchen, Ella got out of her bed and bravely came to the help of her mother.
Ten days later, Ms Mortimer went out to the pub with friends and said her husband was not happy as she had asked him to leave the house within two weeks. She arrived home at 1.10am and spoke to an aunt on FaceTime at 1.18am. “Eleven-year-old Ella must have witnessed, in part at least, the murderous attack on her mother before Boon also attacked his stepdaughter. It is clear that it was a sustained and brutal episode of violence in which Laura and Ella suffered multiple stab wounds about their faces and necks.” Both died “rapidly”, Smith said.
“Some time in the following three hours, the defendant attacked and killed both his wife and her daughter Ella,” Mr Smith said. Victim personal statements read to the court spoke of Mortimer’s successful wedding planning business, Sweet Beginnings. Her mother, Hilary Bartholomew, described her as a “wonderful, devoted mother” who had “done brilliantly” with her business.
“Having heard matters dramatically unfold in the kitchen, Ella got out of her bed and bravely came to the help of her mother. Ella’s father, Tom Dalby, said: “Every day I feel the terror and pain Ella must have felt in the last moments of her life.” The student at Barnwood Park Arts College was described as having an “outstanding dancing talent”.
“Eleven-year-old Ella must have witnessed, in part at least, the murderous attack on her mother before Boon also attacked his stepdaughter.”
“It is clear that it was a sustained and brutal episode of violence in which Laura and Ella suffered multiple stab wounds about their faces and necks.”
Both died “rapidly”, Mr Smith said.
Victim personal statements read to the court spoke of Ms Mortimer’s successful wedding planning business, called Sweet Beginnings.
Her mother Hilary Bartholomew described her as a “wonderful, devoted mother” who had “done brilliantly” with her business.
Ella’s father Tom Dalby said: “Every day I feel the terror and pain Ella must have felt in the last moments of her life.”
The student at Barnwood Park Arts College was described as having an “outstanding dancing talent”.
More than 1,000 mourners attended their funeral at Gloucester Cathedral.More than 1,000 mourners attended their funeral at Gloucester Cathedral.
Representing Boon, Stephen Leslie QC said his client had experienced a “total loss of control” and the murders were not premeditated.Representing Boon, Stephen Leslie QC said his client had experienced a “total loss of control” and the murders were not premeditated.
Speaking outside court, the families of Ms Mortimer and Ella said: “No sentence will ever be enough to pay for what he has done to them and to us. Speaking outside the court, the families of Mortimer and Ella said: “No sentence will ever be enough to pay for what he has done to them and to us. He has given us a full life sentence of loss and sorrow.
“He has given us a full life sentence of loss and sorrow. We are thankful that, that cruel, brutal monster will spend years behind bars where he can contemplate and comprehend the heartlessness of his actions.” “We are thankful that this cruel, brutal monster will spend years behind bars where he can contemplate and comprehend the heartlessness of his actions.”
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