David Bettison death: 'Jealous' man murdered friend found with ex-partner

Leicester Crown Court heard Kyle Morley killed David Bettison after finding him with his ex-partner

A "jealous" man has been jailed for life for murdering his friend, who he found with his ex-partner in a village park in Leicestershire.

Kyle Morley's ex and David Bettison were involved in a consensual sexual act in the park, a court heard.

Morley punched the woman and then set about Mr Bettison, killing him in a "ferocious" and "merciless" attack.

Morley, 30, was ordered to serve a minimum term of 18 years and six months in prison on Tuesday.

Police found Mr Bettison with serious injuries in the park in Hugglescote before he was pronounced dead

Leicester Crown Court was told Morley, of Ashby Road, Coalville, Leicestershire, found the woman and Mr Bettison in the park, off Ashburton Road in Hugglescote, in the early hours of 24 February.

Judge Timothy Spencer said Morley, who had denied murder, attacked the pair because of his sexual jealousy.

The judge said: "The brutality of your attack rendered David Bettison unconscious, if not dead.

"You stamped on his head multiple times with devastating consequences.

"It was an attack that was as ferocious as it was merciless."

Mr Bettison suffered extensive fractures and fatal bleeding, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A cordon was put in place near the park

After the attack, the court heard Morley ran away leaving Mr Bettison dead or dying, and the woman seriously hurt, but later returned and presented police with "a charade", claiming he had come across an attempted rape and intervened.

The judge said Morley had been Mr Bettison's "genuine friend" but then told "wicked lies" in a "forlorn attempt" at a defence of his actions.

He said Morley, a father of four, had also never told the full truth about what happened in the park.

The judge said Mr Bettison, known as Did, was "loved and admired as a son and as a father".

Morley, who admitted grievous bodily harm with intent against the woman, had shown some remorse following the attacks, the judge said.

In a statement read to the court, the woman said: "Physically, my bruises have disappeared but I cannot unsee what I witnessed that evening.

"I have constant nightmares and I am unable to sleep."

The family of Mr Bettison, known as Did, said they were still haunted by his death

In a statement released by Leicestershire Police, Jackie Haines, the mother of Mr Bettison - who was known as Did - said: "When Did died, something inside me died with him.

"There is no pain like a mother losing a child. Only people who have gone through this devastation can really understand how it feels.

"None of us were able to say goodbye because of the brutal and tragic way Did was taken from us and that continues to haunt me."

She added: "There have been a lot of tears and grief and we know there are so many more years of heartache and missed milestone to come. Every future family occasion will be tainted with sadness, and we will have to learn to live with that.

"Since Did's death it has become clear that he had so many friends and was a popular person in our community. We have been overwhelmed with the love and support shown by so many and this has brought us some comfort during this horrendously difficult time."