Mother’s murderer ‘like a nasty virus’

THE SISTER of a murdered mother-of-three has condemned her killers in a courtroom statement in which she branded the jealous ex-boyfriend who knifed her a “virus”.

Kelly Franklin, 29, inset, was stabbed more than 30 times in a Hartlepool street by her controlling former partner Torbjorn Kettlewell.

He was assisted by his some-time lover Julie Wass, 48, who snooped on her next-door neighbour Ms Franklin for him and helped him track her down on that August evening, then drove him away to hide in woodland.

Mr Justice Jacobs sentenced Kettlewell to life with a minimum term of 29 years and care assistant Wass to eight years for manslaughter and assisting an offender, following a trial at Teesside Crown Court. Kettlewell held his head in his hands as he was addressed from the witness box by Stacy Franklin. She told him her sister had fought hard to leave him and start a new life.

The court heard that Ms Franklin hoped to win back care of their children who had been placed in care after Kettlewell accidentally shot one of them with an airgun.

Stacy Franklin said: “She (got) rid (of ) you like a nasty virus that had plagued her life for the last 12 years. She was always so much better off without you.”

The judge paid tribute to Ms Franklin, but said she had been worn down by her abusive relationship with Kettlewell.