Clair Armstrong death: Ashley Kemp convicted of murder

Ashley Kemp killed Ms Armstrong in a "a fit of rage" after she ended their relationship, the court heard

A man who strangled his girlfriend to death after she told him their relationship was over has been convicted of murder.

Clair Armstrong, 50, was found fatally injured at a house in Elm Way, Messingham, on 6 November 2022.

Ashley Kemp, 55, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter but denied murdering Ms Armstrong.

However, after a week-long trial jury at Grimsby Crown Court a jury found him guilty by a unanimous verdict.

He is due to be sentenced on 3 May.

'Red mist'

During the trial jurors heard the pair had been arguing over a claim Kemp had sexually assaulted a teenage girl.

In an interview, the defendant told police he strangled Ms Armstrong after a "red mist" came over him when she confronted him over the allegations, telling him to leave the house.

The jury also heard that Kemp, who was a skydiving instructor in Hibaldstow, headbutted Ms Armstrong with enough force to break her nose before he "squeezed her throat as hard as he could".

Prosecutor Richard Thyne KC told the court that while the attack may not have been pre-planned, Kemp had "intended to kill, or cause serious harm" to Ms Armstrong.

"You killed her in a fit of rage - if you weren't going to have her no-one was," he said.

Clair Armstrong was found fatally injured at a house in Messingham in November

Ms Armstrong, who owned a beauty salon, was last seen alive around 24 hours before Mr Kemp called 999 in the early hours of 6 November to confess killing her

Kemp claimed the argument took place about two hours before he made the call, but jurors heard evidence Ms Armstrong, who was also a skydiving instructor, had failed to respond to WhatsApp messages on her phone from friends and colleagues sent early on Saturday morning.

Kemp told jurors it was not his intention to kill or cause Ms Armstrong really serious harm, but a jury found him guilty of her murder after deliberating for a little under four hours.

'Unforgivable actions'

Det Ch Insp Simon Vickers, from Humberside Police, who led the investigation, said: "The unforgivable and thoughtless actions of Ashley Kemp cost Clair her life and robbed her family of their loving mum, sister and friend.

"Clair's family have shown great unity, dignity, and strength throughout what I can only imagine to be a period of devastating adversity.

"I'm pleased Kemp is now being punished for his unforgivable actions and I hope it provides Clair's family with some comfort in knowing he cannot harm anybody else."

In a statement, Ms Armstrong's family thanked police for "the incredible support and guidance they have given us throughout the darkest time of our lives.

"The day we lost Clair is the day our lives changed forever. We never imagined we would be in this position, but the support of the amazing group of people around us has helped in securing justice for Clair."