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| Dog walker faced knife terror before being killed | Dog walker faced knife terror before being killed |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Claire Knights was walking her dog when she was murdered by Harrison Lawrence Van-Pooss | Claire Knights was walking her dog when she was murdered by Harrison Lawrence Van-Pooss |
| A man used a knife to "terrify and control" a dog walker near a Kent beach before killing her, a court has heard. | |
| Claire Knights, 54, from Upstreet near Canterbury, was found dead between St Nicholas-At-Wade and Minnis Bay in August 2023 after being sexually assaulted. | Claire Knights, 54, from Upstreet near Canterbury, was found dead between St Nicholas-At-Wade and Minnis Bay in August 2023 after being sexually assaulted. |
| Harrison Lawrence Van-Pooss, 21, admitted murdering her at Canterbury Crown Court in December. | Harrison Lawrence Van-Pooss, 21, admitted murdering her at Canterbury Crown Court in December. |
| At the first day of sentencing on Thursday, the prosecution told the same court Van-Pooss had wanted to target a lone female when he attacked Ms Knights and forced her away from a path. | At the first day of sentencing on Thursday, the prosecution told the same court Van-Pooss had wanted to target a lone female when he attacked Ms Knights and forced her away from a path. |
| Prosecuting barrister Alison Morgan KC said Van-Pooss was a "vast and powerful man" who beat Ms Knights, leaving her with multiple fractures. | Prosecuting barrister Alison Morgan KC said Van-Pooss was a "vast and powerful man" who beat Ms Knights, leaving her with multiple fractures. |
| The court heard there had been no injuries inflicted that could have been caused by the knife. | The court heard there had been no injuries inflicted that could have been caused by the knife. |
| It also heard how Ms Knights' son had found his mother's body "face down in the dyke". | It also heard how Ms Knights' son had found his mother's body "face down in the dyke". |
| There were areas of bruising to her neck and thighs, which the prosecution said meant Ms Knights had been sexually assaulted while still alive. | There were areas of bruising to her neck and thighs, which the prosecution said meant Ms Knights had been sexually assaulted while still alive. |
| Van-Pooss admitted killing Ms Knights | Van-Pooss admitted killing Ms Knights |
| At an inquest in September, a coroner said Ms Knights was believed to have died from a blunt force injury and drowning, and that the death had been "violent or unnatural". | At an inquest in September, a coroner said Ms Knights was believed to have died from a blunt force injury and drowning, and that the death had been "violent or unnatural". |
| The precise sequence of events leading up to Ms Knights' death was known only to her killer, the prosecution said. | The precise sequence of events leading up to Ms Knights' death was known only to her killer, the prosecution said. |
| However, Ms Morgan said Van-Pooss told experts he had "no recollection of parts of the day". | However, Ms Morgan said Van-Pooss told experts he had "no recollection of parts of the day". |
| "He has himself said he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of these events," she said. | "He has himself said he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of these events," she said. |
| After murdering Ms Knight, Van-Pooss took her spaniel, Zebulon, to a nearby shop to buy treats for it | After murdering Ms Knight, Van-Pooss took her spaniel, Zebulon, to a nearby shop to buy treats for it |
| The moment Van-Pooss was arrested on the separate charge of voyeurism was shown to the court. He was with Ms Knights' dog at the time of his arrest. | The moment Van-Pooss was arrested on the separate charge of voyeurism was shown to the court. He was with Ms Knights' dog at the time of his arrest. |
| Ms Knights and Van-Pooss were not known to each other before he killed her. | Ms Knights and Van-Pooss were not known to each other before he killed her. |
| Elliot Knights-Sloane, Ms Knights' son, told Van-Pooss in court that his mother "was always there for me." | Elliot Knights-Sloane, Ms Knights' son, told Van-Pooss in court that his mother "was always there for me." |
| He added: "There is no single person who has inspired me more and I want to be more like." | He added: "There is no single person who has inspired me more and I want to be more like." |
| Ms Knights' partner, Stuart Hulme, said: "This senseless act has deprived us all. The hurt you have caused is immeasurable." | Ms Knights' partner, Stuart Hulme, said: "This senseless act has deprived us all. The hurt you have caused is immeasurable." |
| Andrea Watson, Ms Knights' sister, said: "It haunts me to think her last moments were filled with so much pain." | Andrea Watson, Ms Knights' sister, said: "It haunts me to think her last moments were filled with so much pain." |
| She told Van-Pooss: "You saw her as an object." | She told Van-Pooss: "You saw her as an object." |
| Sentencing continues on Friday. | Sentencing continues on Friday. |
| Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. | Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. |