Man strangled estranged partner, murder trial told

Elise Mason's mother previously said her daughter was "loved by everybody"

A man beat and strangled his estranged partner to death after suspecting she had found a new lover, a court has heard.

Mark Donovan, 39, is alleged to have murdered Elise Mason in Great Baddow, near Chelmsford, Essex, on 25 April 2023, inflicting 70 injuries on her.

He was arrested after walking into a police station while eating a Chinese takeaway and telling officers he had done "the worst thing", prosecutors said.

Mr Donovan, of Rothmans Avenue, Great Baddow, denied murdering the 37-year-old.

Police were called to Rothmans Avenue, Great Baddow, where they found the body of Ms Mason

Andrew Jackson KC, prosecuting, told Chelmsford Crown Court Mr Donovan murdered Ms Mason at the home they previously shared.

The pair had been teenage friends and began a romance in 2010, living together in Great Baddow until their relationship fell apart in 2022, he said.

Mr Jackson said Mr Donovan had "bombarded" Ms Mason with "manipulative" texts and phone calls in the lead-up to her death in an effort to win her back.

She was found dead with injuries to her neck, face, head and upper body, the court heard.

Mr Jackson said they had been caused by a fist and a "blood-stained table lamp that was found close to her body".

Ms Mason was last seen entering Mark Donovan's house on 25 April 2023

The trial heard Ms Mason left her mother's house at 15:50 BST on 25 April, "never to return".

He said she was last seen alive at 16:09 as she was filmed on CCTV approaching the house on the day of the alleged murder.

About 16:42 BST she had texted her new partner: "You OK, babe?"

Her partner replied "Course babe" seven minutes later, but the message was never marked as read by Ms Mason.

Between 16:42 and 16:49, Mr Donovan used his fists and a table lamp to assault Ms Mason, Mr Jackson alleged.

"It wasn't until two hours later that the defendant eventually left that house, leaving Elise's lifeless body inside, taking with him her phone and bank card," he said.

The jury heard Mr Donovan then drove to The Blue Lion pub in Great Baddow, where he was seen drinking at the bar.

He disposed of Ms Mason's phone in the pub's toilets before leaving in a taxi, the court was told.

'The worst thing'

The defendant then made his way to his grandmother's home in Chelmsford, before going to a massage parlour, which was closed, in the city.

He then went to another massage parlour in Romford, east London, before handing himself in at Ilford police station at 02:31 the following day.

The court heard he went into the police station "carrying and eating a takeaway Chinese meal".

He told officers he had done "the worst thing", but claimed he acted in self-defence, having been "emotionally abused" by Ms Mason.

Following his confession, two police officers forced entry into the house at 05:18, where they made the "grim" discovery of Ms Mason's body, lying close to the front door and covered in a blanket.

"She had her coat on and her shoes with her handbag around her neck, looking like she was about to leave," said Mr Jackson.

He said her body was heavily bloodstained, with spots of her blood near the walls and furniture.

A love letter from her new partner was also next to her body, folded in a way that suggested she had been carrying it in her handbag.

Mr Jackson said the bag she had "faithfully" carried on her shoulder into the house was found by officers "around her neck."

The trial continues.