Murderer had a history of domestic violence, court told

A husband who murdered his wife and her 11-year-old daughter had previously been convicted of violence towards women, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Christopher Boon was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 29 years in prison for killing Laura Mortimer, 31, and her 11-year-old daughter.

When he stabbed the mother and daughter to death in the kitchen of their home in Gloucester, Boon had a cast on his arm from punching a wall.

In 2010, Boon was convicted of assaulting his then-partner when she told him their relationship was over.

He punched and kicked the woman and then attacked her mother when she came over to help.

Boon, who was handed a suspended sentence over that incident, claimed he had “blacked out” and had no recollection of what happened.

On Boxing Day in 2014, Ms Mortimer ran screaming to a neighbour’s house and said Boon had hit her.

“Dressed only in her underwear, Laura was described as hysterical,” Richard Smith QC told the court.

“Neighbours noticed a bump to her head. The police were contacted but ultimately Laura didn’t support a prosecution.”

Boon was heard to be abusive to Ella and would refer to her as a c***, Mr Smith said.

On May 17 this year, Ms Mortimer sent a text message to a friend stating: “Had to walk out of my house. Long story hun.”

In a phone call to the friend, Ms Mortimer described how Boon “went for her” and she told him she wanted a divorce.

“Boon had then punched a hole in a wall and told Laura ‘that was meant for your face’,” Mr Smith said.

Boon’s arm was placed in a cast after sustaining injuries from hitting the wall.

The cast was still in place 10 days later when he murdered Ms Mortimer and Ella.

“We don’t know what caused him to take the lives of his two family members,” Mr Smith said.

“The fact that he had been told to leave the home for good was perhaps something with which he, and more particularly his evil temper, couldn’t cope.”

Sentencing Boon, Mrs Justice May said the previous domestic violence was an aggravating feature in the case.