Husband jailed for ‘savage’ murders
AN ELECTRICAL engineer has been jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 29 years in prison for murdering his wife and 11-year-old stepdaughter in an episode of “wanton savagery”.
Christopher Boon, 28, stabbed wife Laura Mortimer and her daughter Ella Dalby multiple times in the kitchen of their home in Dexter Way, Gloucester, on May 28.
One of Boon’s arms was in plaster at the time, as 10 days earlier he had punched a hole in a wall after Ms Mortimer said she wanted a divorce – telling her: “That was meant for your face”.
Bristol Crown Court heard Ms Mortimer “fought for her life” after being attacked by Boon, with daughter Ella bravely coming downstairs to help her.
Ms Mortimer suffered 18 stab wounds, including 13 to her face and neck, while Ella had 24 stab wounds over her body.
Both mother and daughter had several injuries from where they had tried to protect themselves from Boon’s “unspeakable savagery”, Mrs Justice May said.
“Blood found on Ella’s feet leads to the inference that she must have come in when her mother was already bleeding,” the High Court judge told Boon.
“She would have witnessed some part of your murderous attack on her mother and tried to stop you before you turned the knife on her.
“What a brave girl. She and her mother were found lying together, side by side when they died.
“Your wanton savagery has blighted the lives of many forever.”
The judge said Boon had committed the murders in “an act of selfish rage and cruelty”.
He had previously been sentenced to nine months’ prison, suspended for two years, after being convicted of assault, battery and criminal damage on a previous partner and her mother in 2010.
Richard Smith QC told the court Boon and Ms Mortimer had been married for five years, with Ella living with them.
On Boxing Day in 2014, Ms Mortimer had run to a neighbour’s house wearing only her underwear and in a “hysterical” state and claimed Boon had hit her, Mr Smith said. Police were contacted but Ms Mortimer did not support her husband being prosecuted.
At the beginning of 2018, Boon had an affair and the woman involved contacted Ms Mortimer to inform her.
On May 17, Ms Mortimer told a friend she had to leave her home after Boon “went for her” and she said she wanted a divorce.
Victim personal statements read to the court spoke of Ms Mortimer’s successful wedding planning business, called Sweet Beginnings. Her mother Hilary Bartholomew described her as a “wonderful, devoted mother” who had “done brilliantly” with her business.
Ella’s father Tom Dalby said: “Every day I feel the terror and pain Ella must have felt in the last moments of her life.”