Jury rules ‘jealous’ man killed partner in a brutal attack
A‘POSSESSIVE and jealous’ man killed his girlfriend in a sustained and brutal attack in which he beat her to the head and face, a jury ruled.
Pamela Ann Mellor, 55, from Bosley, was found dead on August 18 last year and had previously waned police that her on-off partner Matthew Bolland would ‘end up killing someone’.
On Wednesday, February 19, a jury at Liverpool Crown Court found Bolland, 44, had unlawfully killed the mum-of-four and he has been detained at a secure hospital.
He had been charged with murder but was deemed to be unfit to enter a plea or stand trial due to mental health issues.
Consequently, the jury was asked to rule whether Bolland was responsible for unlawful killing - which members did so unanimously.
Miss Mellor, of Stoneyfold Lane, was found in a flat on Meriton Road, Handforth, that belonged to a mutual friend.
A post-mortem examination also revealed evidence indicating that she had been strangled as well as beaten to the head and face.
The trial had heard from a statement Miss Mellor gave to police before her death.
She said in April last year Bolland had locked her in a hotel room, grabbed her by the neck and headbutted her.
In another statement given to police in June last year she described him as ‘being violent and aggressive’ and ended by saying, ‘he will end up killing someone’.
The court heard they were both staying in a flat owned by a mutual friend.
The court heard on the night of her death Miss Mellor and Bolland, of Wilmslow, had been seen arguing after he accused her of cheating on him.
The friend saw her resist his sexual advances and went to bed but was twice awoken by crashing noises, which he went to investigate.
On the second occasion he saw Bolland kneeling next to a motionless Pamela in the lounge and pushing both of his hands down on her head area.
The frightened witness went back to bed and when he returned to the lounge Miss Mellor was still motionless and Bolland, of Budworth Walk, had gone. Following the attack, Bolland called his mum and told her that he had murdered Miss Mellor, as he believed that she had been cheating on him.
He also admitted murdering her when initially questioned by the police.
But he later changed his account and accused another man of going into the flat, knocking him out and killing Miss Mellor whilst he was unconscious. Bolland also claimed his confessions were based on him assuming that he was responsible having found Miss Mellor dead when he woke up.
Evidence from arresting officers read to the court said when detained Bolland had blood on his hands, face and jacket.
He will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, March 24.