In a case that has sent shockwaves through West Yorkshire, a man controlled by a violent cannabis addiction has been found guilty of murdering his partner in a brutal attack before embarking on a macabre journey with her lifeless body.
Bradford Crown Court heard the harrowing details of how Tommie-Lea King, 25, subjected his girlfriend, Demi-May O'Brien, to a sustained and fatal assault in their home on Wibsey Park Avenue. The violence, fuelled by his admitted £100-a-day cannabis habit, culminated in her death by strangulation.
A Macabre Journey with a Terrible Secret
Rather than call for help, King placed the 19-year-old's body in the passenger seat of her own Vauxhall Corsa. For two hours, he drove through the streets of Bradford, a grotesque parody of a normal journey, with the victim's younger sister even spotting the car and waving, unaware of the horror inside.
Prosecutor Jason Pitter KC detailed the grim sequence of events, stating King later confessed to his own mother, telling her: "I think I've killed Demi, I've strangled her." He then fled the scene, leaving the car and Demi-May's body behind, before being apprehended by police.
A Relationship Marred by Control and Violence
The court was told that the relationship was deeply troubled. King, described as "controlling and possessive," had a history of violence towards Ms. O'Brien. On the day of the murder, neighbours reported hearing loud thuds and a woman's screams, followed by an ominous silence.
A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as compression of the neck. The prosecution dismissed King's attempt to plead guilty to manslaughter, arguing the evidence pointed overwhelmingly to murder.
A Life of Promise Cut Short
In a heart-wrenching victim impact statement, Demi-May's family described their immeasurable loss. "Demi was a bright, beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her," they said. "She was a loving daughter, sister, and auntie. Our family has been left with a void that can never be filled."
Tommie-Lea King will be sentenced at a later date, facing a mandatory life term for his crime. This tragic case stands as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of drug abuse and domestic violence.
