Woman jailed for stabbing boyfriend to death

Bailey Heywood stabbed Dale Bond twice at his Bicester home on 13 March

A woman who murdered her boyfriend by stabbing him twice in the chest has been jailed for a minimum of 17 years.

Bailey Heywood, 23, attacked 45-year-old Dale Bond at his flat in Mullein Road, Bicester, on 13 March.

Judge Ian Pringle KC told Oxford Crown Court the starting point for sentencing was 23 years, but he had taken her age and the fact she had no previous convictions into account.

Heywood, of no fixed abode, claimed she had acted in self defence, but the judge said the motive for her actions remained unclear.

Dale Bond was described as "one of the kindest men you could meet" in a family tribute

The court heard that Mr Bond and Heywood "both drank a great deal".

Mr Bond had two children with his estranged wife Emma Bond, who was shaking, crying and had to stop several times during her witness statement.

She said her whole family had been given "a life sentence" by Heywood's actions.

Mrs Bond added that her sons, one of whom is autistic, were not coping with the death of their father and were having nightmares.

Mr Bond's father Ged said in a statement he initially thought his son had taken his own life, and could not believe there had been a murder investigation.

Heywood's barrister said she was "a repeat self-harmer over many years".

'Adored his two children'

Det Ch Insp Will Crowther, from Thames Valley Police's major crime unit, said the investigation "did not find any evidence to support that this was a case of self-defence".

He said: "We may never know Heywood’s motive for viciously stabbing Mr Bond, an act which is all the more surprising, when he was apparently someone she cared for and was in a relationship with."

In a family tribute, Mr Bond described his son as "one of the kindest men you could meet".

"Whatever Dale did he excelled at it - from judo to football and many other pursuits," the statement said.

"He adored his two children and always worked hard to provide for his family."

Mrs Bond added: "Dale will be in our hearts for the rest of our lives and we want him to rest knowing that justice has been served."