A MONSTER who strangled his girlfriend just hours after she called her mum with a chilling warning has been jailed.
Courtney Boorne, 20, was heard screaming "he won't let me out" as Liam Cain attacked her at the flat they shared Knowsley, Merseyside.
She also called her mum, saying: "If she didn't hear from her within an hour to call the police, because something was going on".
Courtney was discovered by police lifeless on a bed inside after Cain, 19, strangled her just two days before Christmas last year.
The killer has now been jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years after being convicted of murder.
Courtney's family wore t-shirts with her picture on with the message "justice for Courtney Boorne, forever 20".
Read more news
Man arrested on ‘murder’ after woman, 26, found dead in church grounds
Police launch murder probe ten years after missing mum-of-three vanished
Sentencing, Judge Brian Cummings KC said: "I am entirely satisfied that, for a period of an hour or more, she was in a state of fear for her life as you on at least two occasions – and probably more – strangled or smothered her, ultimately to death.
"The clear picture I have is of an essentially defenceless young woman trapped by you in the flat, terrified and calling for help, before you eventually strangled or choked her to death on the bed – her final moments don’t bear thinking about."
Liverpool Crown Court heard around an hour after she phoned her mum, a neighbour told 999 she had seen a woman "screaming and climbing onto the window ledge".
Another witness also called police to "report a female shouting out of the window, screaming 'call the police, he's choking me'".
Most read in The Sun
I was 'raped' by Premier League star when I was a teen – he FILMED it & showed pals
Josie Gibson signs for I'm A Celeb after ITV see off rival bid from Strictly
Iconic British rock band in talks to headline Glastonbury next year
Eco-clowns get taste of their own medicine from YouTube pranksters
When police arrived at the top-floor flat, they discovered Courtney unresponsive on the bed with "visible marks to her neck".
She was rushed to hospital but sadly couldn't be saved and was declared dead shortly after.
Cain was arrested after officers found him "crouched down, leaning on an armchair in the living room" with scratch marks on his head and face.
The killer had messaged his dad, saying: "I love you the world, everyone.
"I'm so sorry. Tell everyone."
Shameless Cain had spun a web of lies during his trial, claiming he acted in self-defence after Courtney hit him first with a plant pot.
But his version of events was quickly unravelled by evidence gathered during the investigation.
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 – [email protected].
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.
A spokesperson for charity Womens Aid said: "The murder of a 20 year old woman is shocking and heartbreaking for her family, friends and community, but domestic homicides are anything but uncommon.
"In the UK alone, on average three women every fortnight are killed by a current or former partner.
Read More on The Sun
Mum issues urgent warning after her six-week-old son left fighting for life
Sky customers realising they can access HIDDEN upgrade – but there’s a catch
"Domestic abuse is prevalent throughout our society, with many women feeling trapped and unable to leave.
"Our thoughts at Women’s Aid are with the family of Courtney Bourne, whose life should not have been taken in this brutal way in her own home, the one place she should have been able to be safe.”
Source: Read Full Article
