A supermarket security guard has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his ex-partner, at her home in Nottingham.
Matthew Farmer (42), from Bulwell in Nottingham, killed Stacey Clay in her back garden in the Bestwood area of the city after she had ended their long-term relationship.
After they separated, Farmer had stalked Ms Clay by sending increasingly aggressive phone and social media messages, appearing at her property and sending explicit photos to someone known to her. Ms Clay had installed security measures, including CCTV, and Farmer was on bail for harassment when the fatal attack took place.
In the early morning of 19 May last year, Farmer broke his bail conditions and violently attacked Ms Clay in her garden. He stabbed her repeatedly, then tried to strangle her. He did not stop until he was tackled by police officers called to the scene. Ms Clay died in hospital on 2 June.
Farmer was charged with murder and convicted after a two-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court.
He was today sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 29 years.
Michelle Mannion from the CPS said: “This was ferocious and attack, for which Matthew Farmer showed no remorse.
“He would not accept that his relationship with Ms Clay was over and subjected her to a sustained campaign of harassment, causing Ms Clay great fear and distress in the last few weeks of her life.
“Farmer’s claims that he did not intend to kill Ms Clay or to cause her any serious harm were wholly inconsistent with the evidence which was overwhelming and clearly pointed to a pre-meditated attack.
“Stacey Clay was a much-loved mother, daughter, sister and friend. I would like to extend my heartfelt sympathy to all those close to her who have had to come to terms with her sudden loss in such tragic circumstances.”
Detective Inspector Rebecca Hodgman, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Farmer committed this awful and brutal act killing Stacey and taking her away from her family and friends.
“This was a truly shocking and horrific act that killed a woman just trying to have a fresh start in life with her children.
“I welcome the judge’s sentence and hope it gives Stacey’s family and friends some peace and comfort knowing he has not only been found guilty of her murder but will now spend the next 29 years behind bars paying for his crime.
“We know that no sentence or time behind bars can ever bring back a loved one but we hope that Stacey’s family and friends can now begin to slowly rebuild their lives knowing Famer has been sentenced for his crime.
“I would like to again reiterate our sincere condolences to Stacey’s family and friends on their loss.”
Building the case
Matthew Farmer was arrested at the scene and initially charged with attempted murder. Sadly, in the weeks that followed, Ms Clay passed away and the charge was changed to one of murder.
There was no dispute that Farmer was responsible for the attack. The issue raised in his defence was that he did not intend to kill or do serious harm. The task for the prosecution was to prove to the jury beyond reasonable doubt that he had planned to kill Ms Clay.
The attack was captured on CCTV. The extreme levels of violence and the prolonged nature of the attack were evidence of Farmer’s intent. The CPS secured this evidence from the police at a much earlier stage then usual and served this on the court to eliminate the need for eye-witness accounts at trial.
To demonstrate the planned nature of the attack, the CPS provided evidence that Farmer had purchased a kitchen knife shortly before the attack. We also provided video evidence of him experimenting with the knife at his work place. He was seen to stab the knife into a box. This was used as evidence that he was ‘testing’ the knife as a weapon. Evidence was also presented about Farmer’s behaviour after the attack.
As part of the sentencing exercise, the CPS reminded the court of the seriousness of this offence, including bringing a knife to the scene, the use of the knife as a weapon and the extreme violence used, as well as the preceding stalking behaviour.
