Cage fighter murdered ex over affair with boy
A CAGE fighter has been convicted of murdering his ex-partner after blackmailing her about a relationship with a 15-year-old boy.
Paul Robson, 50, inflicted catastrophic head injuries on Caroline Kayll, 47, during a horrific and sustained attack on her and the boy at her home in November.
A court heard former MMA fighter Robson struck up a clandestine relationship with Mrs Kayll while he was a prisoner at HMP Northumberland, where she worked as a teacher.
They ended up living together but split up weeks before the murder. He then blackmailed her when he found out about the relationship she had started with the teenager, who cannot be identified.
Robson, from Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, snooped on Mrs Kayll and the boy outside her home in Linton, Northumberland. He then launched a terrifying attack on them both. Branded “a cruel and calculating coward” by the prosecution, Robson kicked Mrs Kayll in the head while wearing heavy work boots, and may have strangled her.
He also chopped off her hair clumps and slashed her buttocks.
She could not survive the catastrophic brain injuries he inflicted.
Robson also repeatedly attacked the in boy with scissors and a meat cleaver, sprayed them both with ammonia and stole their phones. He later updated her social media, pretending to be her, while he was on the run, it was said.
The former mixed martial arts fighter denied murder, claiming it was the boy who attacked Mrs Kayll.
Robson has spent long spells of his life in jail and has 21 convictions for 92 offences over more than 30 years on his record. He was sentenced to 10 years for drugs and firearms offences in 2014. While at HMP Northumberland he gained “trusted” status and worked in the education department where Mrs Kayll worked.
He was released on licence in November 2018, but was recalled to prison in March 2019 because he had breached his licence. From then on he was unlawfully at large.
Robson should still have been behind bars when he killed Mrs Kayll, it was said.
Newcastle Crown Court heard she had confided in a friend that Robson was blackmailing her for £35,000.
Over 10 days in November, she transferred £29,000 to Robson and took out a £10,500 loan, it was said.
He was found guilty of murder and will be sentenced today.
Detective Inspector Graeme Barr said: “There is no doubt he wanted to kill or permanently disfigure both of his victims.”