Stocking murderer jailed for life

The couple had been living together since 2001

A man who murdered his partner by strangling her with her own stockings has been jailed for life.

Mark Ferguson, 37, from Falkirk, was ordered to serve at least 12 years for the killing.

Judge Lord Brailsford described the murder of 47-year-old Elizabeth Hunter as "a wicked and horrible crime".

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Ferguson strangled Ms Hunter on 27 May as she lay in bed following an argument over a cigarette.

Prosecutor Gillian Wade described how he choked her for six minutes until her struggles ceased.

Ms Wade said Ferguson then partially dressed the body in underwear and a dressing gown before pulling over the duvet cover.

Not breathing

She said: "He then went into the living room, had a drink and went to sleep.

"When he awoke he checked and realised she was not breathing and telephoned the police.

"He told them: 'I strangled her with one of her stockings'."

Ferguson admitted murdering Ms Hunter, who worked as a cleaner, by strangling her at their home in Falkirk's Firs Street.

Ferguson was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow

Police examiners found four separate ligature marks across her neck, as if the stockings had been applied several times.

A post-mortem examination also revealed she had bruising to her left cheek, her left earlobe was torn and she had bruising on the inside of her mouth.

Ms Wade said a row developed between the couple after Ms Hunter smoked the last cigarette.

She added: "He claimed that she nagged him so much about this as they lay in bed that he grabbed one of her stockings that had been discarded earlier beside the bed and tied a knot in it.

"He then put the stocking round her neck and pulled."

Sentencing Ferguson, Lord Brailsford said he had received letters from Ms Hunter's sister and her daughter.

Violent relationship

He said: "I understand the loss and hurt the two ladies experienced. Nothing I can do can in any way cure the hurt and pain you feel."

The court heard that the couple set up home together in 2001 and had a volatile and often violent relationship.

Outside court, Ms Hunter's 26-year-old daughter Lisa said: "I hate him. I hope he rots in hell.

"My two sons who are three and one have lost their gran because of what her did. She adored her grandkids and he killed her over a row about cigarettes."