Skydiver’s bruises revealed after fatal headbutt attack on girlfriend when she confronted him over ‘rape of teen girl’
A SKYDIVER scowls beneath a bruised forehead after he headbutted then murdered his girlfriend when he was accused of trying to rape a teen girl.
Clair Armstrong, 51, had confronted Ashley Kemp, 53, after the claims put their relationship under severe strain.
The mum-of-three was found dead in bed at her home in Messingham, Lincolnshire, after Kemp made a confession to police.
The instructor told officers: "I've killed my girlfriend. We got into a fight and I ended up strangling her.
"She is upstairs on the bed in the main bedroom. We just had an argument, that was all, and it just got heated.
"She just started thrashing out and I just reacted. I never react...I pinned her down and just choked her."
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Police later found Kemp on a grass verge after he crashed his car and arrested him on suspicion of murder.
The callous killer then asked them: "Who have I murdered?"
He has now been convicted of murder following a trial at Grimsby Crown Court.
Speaking after the verdict, Clair's family said "our lives changed forever" when she was murdered.
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A statement read by her brother-in-law Ian Farrell said: “We received news which has shattered us all and left a huge hole in our lives that can never be filled.
“Clair our beautiful sister and mum was tragically taken from us in such horrific circumstances that we will never accept or understand.
“We miss her incredibly and regardless of what the person responsible for killing Clair receives as a punishment it will never ever be enough to ease our pain for losing her."
Jurors were told at the time of the killing in November, a teenage girl had made "allegations of a sexual nature" against Kemp.
He was arrested but no decision has been made yet on whether or not to charge him for the alleged attempted rape.
Clair had mentioned to pals that her relationship with Kemp was "struggling" as a result of the claims and that she could see herself being single again, it was said.
The couple had been together for two years after meeting at skydiving centre Drop Zone, where they were both instructors.
On November 4, Clair was seen returning home with Kemp after enjoying drinks with her brother and sister-in-law at a local pub.
At 12.41am, Kemp called police and made the chilling confession.
His car was spotted on the B1398 around 11 miles away at 2.24am after he left the road, hit a tree then ploughed through a hedge.
A handwritten note was found in his clothing referring to the sex allegations, saying: “It is lies. It has torn the family apart.
"It’s time to go. I can’t be happy now. I’m so sorry.”
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
The court was told Kemp claimed Clair had become "hysterical" as she spoke to him about the alleged sex attack.
He said Clair had asked him to leave and "grabbed him" before he "squeezed her throat for what seemed like eternity until she stopped”.
Kemp added: "To be honest, I just snapped. It was like a red mist came over. When she stopped I thought ‘That’s it’. I didn’t realise it was going to be her end. I held on too long. I didn’t know."
But Richard Thyne KC, prosecuting, said the brute "killed her in a fit of rage".
He added: "If you weren't going to have her, no one was."
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Kemp, who admitted manslaughter but denied murder, will be sentenced on May 3.
