Insights into the mind of a cold-blooded killer
A LEADING psychologist today provides a rare insight into the mind of cold-blooded killer Karen Tunmore.
While getting away with murder Tunmore displayed a softer side to those who knew her.
In the 14 years she hid her dark secret, Scott Pritchard’s killer threw herself into good causes, projecting an image of a kind-hearted, community-minded member of society.
After committing the horrific crime in 2004, Tunmore devoted her time to good causes, working with young people in her local area and raising money for those in need.
On more than one occasion Tunmore gave interviews to Chronicle journalists about her good work.
But Tunmore was exposed as a violent murderer two months ago when she confessed to battering 19-year-old Scott to death with a baseball bat.
Now, after the 36-year-old was jailed for life, a leading North East lecturer in forensic psychology has said it is possible Tunmore was attempting to make amends for her terrible crime.
And Laura Farrugia, from the University of Sunderland, said it was not uncommon for someone hiding such a terrible secret to be keen to be involved in community work. She said: “I don’t think it’s surprising, but the extent to which they go to might be surprising. What can happen is, if an individual is carrying a large amount of guilt around, they can engage in what are known as ‘repairing strategies.’ That strengthens that individual’s ties to their community. In simple terms they will try to right their wrongs.”
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Tunmore, from Killingworth, battered Scott to death near his Sunderland home after the 19-year-old failed to repay a debt he owed her friend.
She said she was in a drunken rage at the time, but went on to dispose of the murder weapon and her car.
In the years after Scott’s death his killer went on the become a football coach. The Chronicle understands she trained youngsters at Killingworth Juniors, and girls as part of the FA’s Wild Cats programme.
Tunmore is also understood to have been involved in sporting activities at a local youth club.
Yesterday The Chronicle revealed how she raised money to buy a replacement bike for a Wallsend schoolboy whose specialist trike was stolen, in 2015.
And when taxi driver Davey Hope,was killed by a drink driver on the A19, in 2016, Tunmore, who worked at North Tyneside-based Crown Taxis with Mr Hope, set up an online fundraising page within hours.
On the GoFundMe website Tunmore wrote: “We are raising money for the family of an amazing bloke, Davey Hope, who was tragically taken from his beloved family and friends on Saturday morning. Davey was loved by all who were lucky enough to have had the pleasure to meet him. Davey was very wellknown in the taxi trade around Newcastle and North Tyneside and we all lost a true friend who lost his life doing what he always did - helping others. We all love and miss you, Davey.”
Laura said it is possible Tunmore’s good deeds and community-spirited actions were her way of attempting to feel better about what she had done.
“If they can make it up to the person they have hurt they will, but if they can’t they will do stuff for others to make them feel better. It’s a way of managing their guilt, and overcoming the negative feelings,” she explained.
“She was a football coach. She was quite active in the community. She’s doing positive things for the community.
“It becomes like a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you behave in a certain way that can lead to certain feelings, then you will engage in more behaviour that fuels these feelings.
“If an individual is battling with lots of feelings of guilt, doing positive things evokes positive emotions. So that individual will continue to engage in more and more to try to keep that positive feeling going.
“The individual is going to feel huge amounts of guilt for the rest of their life so it’s not surprising that they will engage with positive community behaviours.”
Northumbria Police’s Det Chief Insp John Bent told The Chronicle that there was no particular trigger to Tunmore’s confession, and that she had said that she could not live with the guilt any longer.
Doing things for others is a way of managing their guilt and overcoming negative feelings Laura Farrugia