Millionaire ‘killed young girlfriend when he lost it in drug-fuelled S&M sex game’
Property tycoon denies murder
A PROPERTY tycoon murdered his S&M-loving younger girlfriend after “losing it” during booze and drug fuelled “rough sex”, a court heard.
Natalie Connolly, 26, was found wearing only a black skirt pulled up to her waist at the couple’s £600,000 home.
Jurors were told John Broadhurst, 40, may have wanted to “teach her a lesson” after finding she had been sending topless pictures to an ex.
He is alleged to have inflicted 40 “dreadful” blunt-force injuries to her head, buttocks, breasts and genitals.
Birmingham crown court heard the pair had been drinking heavily before being chauffeured home from a West Brom v Manchester United match.
David Mason QC said they had more drinks and took cocaine before Natalie indicated she wanted masochistic sex.
He added: “There is evidence this was not out of the ordinary. They had a shared interest in this sort of behaviour.”
Broadhurst told police that during the S&M session he momentarily went into a bedroom alone. He then found Natalie injured at the bottom of the stairs in Kinver, Staffs, but could not carry her back up because he has “a metal leg”.
When he woke next morning at 9am he discovered she was dead.
Mr Mason told jurors: “He said he had not intended to hurt her at all, save within the boundaries of her masochistic desires.”
But he continued: “She was virtually naked, on her own, left there by the man who said, and still says, that he loved her.
“She was bleeding heavily from many different injuries to her body. How could any man that is supposedly in love with Natalie leave her to die in the way he did?”
The mum-ofone, who was almost five times the drink-drive limit, died of acute alcohol intoxication and blunt-force injuries. Mr Mason warned jurors they would hear “harrowing evidence” in a trial due to last five weeks. He added: “On the face of it, all seemed happy. Natalie was being well looked after by a very wealthy man. “He had bought her a car and she had a good allowance.”
Mr Mason said Natalie stayed in contact with various ex-partners after moving in with the dad-ofthree. He went on: “Maybe you will take the view some sexual contact with exes had taken place after she started to go out with John Broadhurst? Had he discovered that perhaps?” He said Natalie sent Snapchat messages to one ex on the night she died and asked: “Were these messages seen by Mr Broadhurst? If so, Company boss Broadhead one can only imagine the sort of reaction he might have had.”
The couple were due to go to Dubai for Christmas, with Natalie flying a day ahead of her boyfriend. Jurors heard she “appeared to have an arrangement” to meet up with a man during the trip.
He had found Natalie on the internet and received topless photos of her.
Mr Mason said: “It appears they had planned to meet in Dubai, a trip paid for by Mr Broadhurst and which she was supposed to be enjoying with him.
“Is it the case, as we suggest, that he has totally lost it with her that night?”
The prosecutor said Broadhurst used Natalie’s love of “certain masochistic behaviour” as an excuse for what he did.
He added: “Did he do these things because he found out about Natalie and did what he did to teach her a lesson?”
Broadhurst, of Blakeshall, Worcs, denies murder and GBH with intent.
The trial continues.