Jilted lover jailed for murder

A jilted man who bludgeoned his former partner's new lover to death after finding the pair in bed has been jailed for life for murder.

Joseph Curran, 40, of Shaws Road, Birkdale, Southport, attacked Thomas Griffiths as he lay naked in bed with Melanie Edmonds.

The attack happened on 20 July last year in Ms Edmonds' sister's house.

He was also found guilty of attempting to murder Ms Edmonds at Liverpool Crown Court.

His view was that if he could no longer have his partner, no-one else would David Aubrey QC, prosecuting

Sentencing him, the judge, Mr Justice Silber, said: "You have been convicted of a savage murder in which Thomas Griffiths was battered to death while he was asleep in the early hours."

Curran went to a police station shortly after the attack and confessed that he had murdered the couple, the court heard.

When police arrived at the house on Victory Avenue, High Park, Southport, they found Mr Griffiths, 31, lying on the floor of the main bedroom and Ms Edmonds on the bed.

Mr Griffiths had been battered about the head with a claw hammer, and was confirmed dead shortly after arriving at hospital.

Ms Edmonds, who had also been hit by the hammer and stabbed in the throat with a craft knife, survived.

The mother-of-three was released from hospital earlier this month, but has been left with sight problems.

Courtroom cheers

Prosecuting, David Aubrey QC said: "It is quite apparent he, armed with a knife, hammer and chisel police found in his car, had gone round to Victory Avenue and quite coldly bludgeoned Mr Griffiths to death while he lay defenceless on the bed with Melanie Edmonds.

"His view was that if he could no longer have his partner, no-one else would."

When the jury returned their verdicts with a majority of 11 to one after deliberating for seven hours, friends and relatives of the victims in the public gallery cheered.

Ms Edmonds was in court for the verdicts and wept outside the courtroom.

Curran had admitted unlawfully killing Mr Griffiths and inflicting grievous bodily harm on his former partner, but both pleas were rejected.

Sentencing for the attempted murder charge was adjourned until 13 February for medical reports about Ms Edmonds.