Karl Hutchings, 48, has been sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison after admitting the murder of 54-year-old Julie Buckley, whose dismembered remains were found buried in a shallow grave in the Cambridgeshire village of Wimblington. Hutchings provided police with a map showing the location of the body after pleading guilty in September last year.
Background of the case
Prosecutor Christine Agnew KC told the court that Ms Buckley and Hutchings were friends who spent time together and were both addicted to Class A drugs. Ms Buckley had been staying at Hutchings' home in Christchurch, Cambridgeshire, and was last seen alive on CCTV at a Budgens supermarket in nearby March on January 28 last year. Concerns were raised when she failed to attend appointments, and it is believed she was murdered between January 29 and the morning of January 30.
Evidence and post-mortem findings
Evidence showed that Hutchings used Ms Buckley's bank card to buy alcohol at a One Stop shop on the morning of January 30 before later selling her car for £500. A post-mortem examination found that Ms Buckley had suffered 11 blows to the skull. When officers arrested Hutchings on February 13 last year, they discovered extensive blood staining on a sofa inside his home, as well as part of the living room carpet that had been removed and burnt items in the garden.
Hutchings' confession and mental health
The court heard that Hutchings later told a teacher at HMP Peterborough that he had 'waited it out' before pleading guilty because he hoped to be dealt with on a diminished responsibility basis. He said he killed Ms Buckley because she had been stealing from him and had tried to convince him he was 'mad'. The prosecution stated that Hutchings told the teacher he struck Ms Buckley over the head with a hammer before hitting her again, saying the second blow 'finished her off'.
Mitigating factors and sentence
Mitigating, Allison Summers said Hutchings had a long history of mental health problems and significant drug addiction. She told the court that Ms Buckley had been homeless and Hutchings had offered her a place to stay. The precise trigger for the attack may never be known, but it was suggested that Hutchings likely 'lost it' before attacking Ms Buckley. The court also heard that Hutchings had been released from a psychiatric unit less than three months before the murder and decided to plead guilty after being advised that a psychiatric report did not support a defence of diminished responsibility.
