Kayleigh Dunning was killed in a ‘brutal and ferocious assault’, a court docket heard (Image: Hampshire Police/Solent Information)
A jealous lover killed his fiancée on the night time he proposed to her, a court docket heard as we speak.
Mark Brandford, 49, crushed the cranium of associate Kayleigh Dunning in a ‘brutal and ferocious’ assault, a jury was instructed.
Within the lead as much as her demise, a court docket heard he had been to a registry workplace with plans to marry his sufferer, one thing she knew nothing about.
Photographs posted to Brandford’s Instagram from the night present Ms Dunning, 32, posing subsequent to novelty balloons which mentioned ‘Will you marry me?’ on them, the jury heard.
However the defendant can be accused of revealing personal sexual images and movies of his associate within the yr earlier than her homicide.
The alleged assault on the cleaner passed off at Brandford’s house in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in December 2019.
Ms Dunning ‘tried to defend herself and she or he acquired heavy accidents’, jurors heard (Image: Hampshire Police/Solent Information)
Prosecutor Simon Jones mentioned: ‘Quite a few blows to her head and neck had crushed her cranium and severed the most important artery in her neck.
‘She had clearly tried to defend herself and she or he acquired heavy accidents to her fingers and forearms in her battle, her battle to thrust back the assault – however she didn’t have an opportunity.’
He mentioned that she was bare on the time of the ‘extended and violent assault’.
Mr Jones added: ‘The prosecution say that Mark Brandford extensively lied when questioned by police.
‘We are saying that he murdered Kayleigh as a result of he was jealous.’
Police examine the killing in Portsmouth in December 2019 (Image: Portsmouth Information/Solent Information)
The court docket heard how the couple had an ‘uncommon historical past’. They met two years earlier than the homicide and have been each in long-term relationships on the time.
They each broke up with their companions to be collectively and have been at one level engaged, however their relationship led to August 2019.
Ms Dunning moved again to her father’s house and began seeing her earlier boyfriend earlier than changing into concerned with Brandford once more.
Mr Jones mentioned that they didn’t declare to be in a relationship however Ms Dunning mentioned she liked him.
Nonetheless, by December 2019, she had additionally started sleeping with Brandford once more.
Mr Jones mentioned Ms Dunning was a ‘energetic character’ and that her household and buddies bear in mind her as an ‘open, chatty, outgoing and passionate younger girl’.
On the night time of her killing, Ms Dunning didn’t inform her father and brother that she was staying at Brandford’s as a result of ‘they didn’t approve of him’.
In addition to homicide he’s accused of revealing personal sexual images and movies with out Ms Dunning’s consent with the intent of inflicting her misery between October 2018 and December 2019.
The trial at Portsmouth Crown Courtroom continues.
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