Thanks for being a pathetic, useless father. Just killed two people, cheers
Knifeman’s text after double murder
MATALAN murderer Andrew Saunders savagely stabbed two shop workers to death in the street – then texted his dad to blame him for being “a useless father”.
Saunders, 20, is facing life in jail for slaughtering his ex-girlfriend and her new partner.
He ambushed Lee Simmons, 33, and Zoe Morgan, 22, outside the Matalan store where they worked in Cardiff.
Later, he messaged his father: “Thanks for being a pathetic, useless father. Just killed two people. Cheers.”
Cardiff crown court heard yesterday how Saunders, who had been in a relationship with Miss Morgan for two years before she met Lee, could not accept she had a new relationship and searched the web for ways to kill in the weeks leading up to the murder.
Saunders searched on Google for “the easiest way to kill a person”, “how many years for killing a person”, “16 steps to kill someone and not get caught” and “how long do murderers serve in prison”.
Saunders bought knives and latex gloves in the days leading up to the double murder and searched for guns and how to make pipe bombs, the court heard. Philip Bennett, prosecuting, revealed that Saunders’ final web searches were “how to slice a neck” and “how to smoke a cigar”.
When Miss Morgan told Saunders their relationship was over, he accused her of cheating on him, adding: “You are definitely chatting to someone else. I will kill whoever it is.”
Saunders began searching for revenge online and, days later, sent Miss Morgan a photograph of the back of her house. He told Miss Morgan that he had contacted Mr Simmons on Facebook, telling him that he would kill him and “smash his f ****** head in”.
Saunders tried to identify Mr Simmons’ car registration and discovered his full address, repeatedly looking at his Facebook profile,.
Mr Bennett said that on the day of the killing Saunders left his home at 4.41am, where he had left a letter suggesting that he was intending to take his own life.
In it he wrote: “You know you are messed up when you think like I do. Thinking of shooting up Cardiff every day for months and years is pretty dark. I think Isis is the good guys most of the time and that is just messed up. No one will forget me.”
He ambushed Mr Simmons and Miss Morgan at about 6am before casually leaving the scene.
He took an 8in knife from his rucksack and began attacking Mr Simmons, who was saying “please”, “help, help, help” and “stop, stop”. Mr Bennett said Saunders, who was described by one witness as being in a frenzy, replied “f*** off ” and continued to stab Mr Simmons. Miss Morgan tried to pull the defendant off, but Saunders told her to get off before warning: “I’m coming for you next.”
Miss Morgan started screaming and ran towards Boots but was caught by Saunders who took a second knife, measuring approximately 10in, from his rucksack as he chased her, the court heard. After fatally stabbing her, Saunders walked “casually” up to Mr Simmons and picked up the knife next to him before leaving the scene. Police and paramedics tried to save the couple but “could do little for them” and they died, each having suffered eight stab wounds.
Saunders phoned his mother for 11 minutes before driving home.
His sister called 999, saying Saunders had arrived home with blood on him. At 6.30am, Saunders posted “F***” on Facebook, later adding: “Product of society.”
Saunders was arrested and told police: “I’m sorry, you know sometimes you just snap,” before asking: “Are they both dead?”.
Saunders, who pleaded guilty to murder, will be sentenced today.