Skydiver guilty of murdering girlfriend in bed before crashing car after fleeing
A skydiving instructor who killed his girlfriend in her bed before crashing his car has been found guilty of her murder.
Ashley Kemp is facing a life sentence for murdering fellow parachute instructor Clair Armstrong, 50, after he strangled her in her bed in November last year.
Kemp, 55, originally pleaded guilty to manslaughter claiming he hadn't intended to end her life, but was found guilty by a jury on Tuesday after deliberating for just over four hours.
Throughout the trial, prosecutor Richard Thyne KC told how Kemp, from Hibaldstow, north east Lincolnshire, called 999 to say "I've killed my girlfriend" before being later found on a grass verge after crashing his car.
In the chilling phone call, Kemp told an operator: "We got into a fight and I ended up strangling her.
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Mum-of-three Clair Armstrong was strangled in her bed (Facebook)"She is upstairs on the bed in the main bedroom. We just had an argument, that was all, and it just got heated.
"She just started thrashing out and I just reacted. I never react... I pinned her down and just choked her."
Prosecutor Mr Thyne told the court Kemp had been accused of "allegations of a sexual nature" by a teenage girl, resulting in the breakdown of their relationship.
Ms Armstrong, who was also a beauty therapist and a mum-of-three, had told Kemp she wanted him to leave when he strangled her at her home in Messingham, Lincolnshire, the court heard.
Kemp was convicted at Grimsby Crown court
Clair Armstrong had asked Kemp to leave her home when he killed her (Humberside Police / SWNS.COM)He later told detectives he had headbutted Clair, before strangling her to stop her talking after "an argument for which she had asked him to leave her home which she shared with her family", police said.
When police swarmed the house after the call, she was discovered lying on her bed in a dressing gown.
There were injuries to her nose and forehead and there was blood on her collar.
Kemp said, "who have I murdered?" when he was later found on a grass verge, after his vehicle crashed into a tree and he was arrested for Clair's murder.
Tributes left for Clair at her home in Messingham, Lincolnshire (GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford)Kemp was found guilty of murder at Grimsby Crown court on Tuesday and will be sentenced at Hull Crown court on Wednesday next week.
A statement released by Clair's family said: "As a family, we would like to thank Humberside Police for the incredible support and guidance they have given us throughout the darkest time of our lives.
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"The day we lost Clair is the day our lives changed forever, we never imagined we would be in this position, but the support of the amazing group of people around us has helped in securing justice for Clair."
The family also thanked detectives and emergency services who had "all helped our beautiful sister, and mum, Clair".
Clair's family said her murder has been the 'darkest time' in their lives (Facebook)Detective Chief Inspector Simon Vickers, who led the murder probe, said: "The unforgiveable and thoughtless actions of Ashley Kemp cost Clair her life and robbed her family of their loving mum, sister and friend.
"Clair’s family have shown great unity, dignity, and strength throughout what I can only imagine to be a period of devastating adversity.
"I’m pleased that Kemp is now being punished for his unforgiveable actions and I hope it provides Clair’s family with some comfort in knowing he cannot harm anybody else."
In the UK, two women are killed every week by current or former partners. For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk.
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