This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/7746250.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Man drove car over fiancee's head | Man drove car over fiancee's head |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A businessman has been jailed for life for murdering his fiancee by driving his Land Rover over her head as she lay injured on the ground. | A businessman has been jailed for life for murdering his fiancee by driving his Land Rover over her head as she lay injured on the ground. |
| Christopher Caunter, 36, of Hullbridge, Essex, must serve a minimum of 21 years for killing Deborah Townsend, 35, near Lowestoft, Suffolk, in July 2005. | Christopher Caunter, 36, of Hullbridge, Essex, must serve a minimum of 21 years for killing Deborah Townsend, 35, near Lowestoft, Suffolk, in July 2005. |
| Karim Khalil QC, prosecuting, said 18-stone Caunter had a volcanic temper. | Karim Khalil QC, prosecuting, said 18-stone Caunter had a volcanic temper. |
| The building labour supply firm owner denied murder, but was convicted at a retrial at Ipswich Crown Court. | The building labour supply firm owner denied murder, but was convicted at a retrial at Ipswich Crown Court. |
| Mr Khalil said witnesses told of a row between the couple: "It seems she must have got out of the Land Rover voluntarily or otherwise. | Mr Khalil said witnesses told of a row between the couple: "It seems she must have got out of the Land Rover voluntarily or otherwise. |
| "He drove into her from behind, knocking her to the floor and injuring her legs in such a way that she could not walk off. | "He drove into her from behind, knocking her to the floor and injuring her legs in such a way that she could not walk off. |
| The evidence has shown that you have been violent in the past on a number of occasions and that you are a danger to others Judge John Devaux | The evidence has shown that you have been violent in the past on a number of occasions and that you are a danger to others Judge John Devaux |
| "He then reversed that Land Rover over her head. She was killed instantly." | "He then reversed that Land Rover over her head. She was killed instantly." |
| Jurors were told that last November another jury failed to reach verdicts in the case. | Jurors were told that last November another jury failed to reach verdicts in the case. |
| The trial heard Caunter became embroiled in a row with his fiancee in Lowestoft, Suffolk. | The trial heard Caunter became embroiled in a row with his fiancee in Lowestoft, Suffolk. |
| Parts of Ms Townsend's scalp and clumps of hair were later found in a pool of blood by a passing motorist near to a layby on the A146 in Beccles. | Parts of Ms Townsend's scalp and clumps of hair were later found in a pool of blood by a passing motorist near to a layby on the A146 in Beccles. |
| After Caunter fled the country to Thailand, Ms Townsend's body was discovered in the boot of the Land Rover in an isolated spot near to Chelmsford, Essex. | After Caunter fled the country to Thailand, Ms Townsend's body was discovered in the boot of the Land Rover in an isolated spot near to Chelmsford, Essex. |
| Sentencing, Judge John Devaux said Caunter should serve a minimum of 21 years. | Sentencing, Judge John Devaux said Caunter should serve a minimum of 21 years. |
| "The evidence has shown that you have been violent in the past on a number of occasions and that you are a danger to others," said the judge. | "The evidence has shown that you have been violent in the past on a number of occasions and that you are a danger to others," said the judge. |
| Caunter's brother Robert Caunter, 39, of Barking, Essex, and friend Joseph Brown, 39, of Romford, Essex, who helped him cover up the crime, were found guilty of assisting an offender. | Caunter's brother Robert Caunter, 39, of Barking, Essex, and friend Joseph Brown, 39, of Romford, Essex, who helped him cover up the crime, were found guilty of assisting an offender. |
| They will be sentenced on 22 December. | They will be sentenced on 22 December. |