Former soldier guilty of murdering partner

Michelle Egge-Bailey's family said her killer's conviction did not bring them closure

A former soldier who killed his partner as she lay in bed after a drink-fuelled row has been found guilty of murder.

Stephen Lawton, 45, stabbed Michelle Egge-Bailey in the neck at their flat in Airedale Avenue, Cottingley, Bradford.

During his trial, Bradford Crown Court was told how he "lost control" and attacked the 54-year-old after they had both been drinking on 11 March.

Lawton, who had admitted a charge of manslaughter but denied murder, will be sentenced at a later date.

The court heard Lawton, who suffers from PTSD and depression after tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, claimed Ms Egge-Bailey had been making insulting remarks.

During his trial, he told the court she had been drinking bottles of prosecco and he had been having Stella.

Stephen Lawton had admitted manslaughter but denied murder

Lawton said his partner was shouting and swearing at him and after she went into the bedroom he went in to try and calm her down.

Lawton claimed she continued to make "nasty" comments and he became very emotional.

He said: "I just felt dizzy. I was shaking. I had sweats. I felt like I was going to pass out."

He told the court that when he picked up the knife he had "totally lost control".

After stabbing her, Lawton, who was working for the Canal & Rivers Trust charity, said he sent a message to a friend saying he had done something "beyond stupid" and went to see if his friend was in the pub.

He later returned home and drank until he feel asleep on the sofa.

When he woke up the next morning he said he thought he had had "a bad dream".

The court was told how when police and paramedics attended the next morning, there was a pillow over his partner's face which Lawton admitted putting there.

He said: "I put that pillow there so I didn't have to see her face."

In a statement released after the verdict, Ms Egge-Bailey's mother Kathleen Da Born and stepfather Jeremy Da Born said the conviction of Lawton for their daughter's violent attack and murder "brings us no closure."

It added: "The traumatic ending of Michelle's life will remain with us, always."

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