Police warned killer might harm ex-girlfriend’s lover
A MAN who killed his ex-girlfriend’s lesbian lover had previously been warned against harassing the couple, a court has heard.
Andrew Burke has been jailed for a minimum of 26 years after admitting walking into the travel agency where Cassie Hayes worked and slitting her throat as she was serving a family.
Police had been repeatedly warned that he would harm Miss Hayes, including by his own mother. The day before killing Miss Hayes in January, Burke had also been found guilty of harassing her girlfriend Laura Williams, his ex-lover and the mother of his three-year-old daughter, and was bailed awaiting sentence.
Judge David Aubrey told him: “You perpetrated a cold-blooded execution in public for the purpose of revenge and the killing was an act of unspeakable savagery. This was a cowardly act of revenge designed to kill and did kill a totally innocent person in broad daylight in front of so many.”
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Burke walked into the Tui store in Southport where Miss Hayes was assistant manager on Jan 13 and slit her throat before sitting calmly and waiting for the police to arrive.
He was heard to say that she “had it coming for her what she had done to his family”, said Gordon Cole QC, prosecuting. There had been repeated warnings that he would harm Miss Hayes after she became obsessed with his ex-partner.
Burke was charged with harassing Ms Williams on Nov 13 last year and was convicted of the offence on Jan 12 at Sefton magistrates’ court and was bailed ahead of sentencing.
He was also the subject of an allegation of harassment against Ms Hayes in May 2017 and was warned off by police.
Burke was also charged with making malicious communications in January last year when Louise Mcconnell, his mother, made a statement to police warning he repeatedly threatened to kill himself or Miss Hayes because he held her responsible for the end of his relationship. Burke pleaded guilty to that offence and received a fine and an unpaid work requirement.
Tracey Hayes, the victim’s mother, told Burke as he sat in the dock: “You took the most precious gift I ever had in my life, my beautiful daughter, my baby in the most horrific away. You are the most evil horrific monster walking on this earth. You do not deserve to breathe fresh air again.”