Murderer shared bed with body

The jury convicted Noble for Jo Cockell's murder in under two hours

A man who stabbed his girlfriend, filmed her naked body and then lay next to it in bed for up to two days has been found guilty of murder.

Peter Noble, a former stage manager at the Hexagon Theatre in Reading, Berkshire, stabbed Jo Cockell fourteen times, Reading Crown Court heard.

Police found him in bed beside the body at his home in Stanley Grove, Reading, last December.

Noble had washed his victim after the murder and taken video footage of her.

Medical report

He confessed to the crime last December in a series of letters, including one sent to Thames Valley Police.

Defence lawyers had argued he was suffering from depression and should be found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Noble showed no emotion as the jury foreman delivered the unanimous verdict after less than two hours of deliberations on Wednesday.

Judge Ms Justice Rafferty has ordered a medical report before passing sentence in the next few days.