Michelle Egge-Bailey, 54, was ‘left to die’ by Stephen Lawton, 45, who stabbed her in the neck three times and once in the right arm as she lay in bed following an argument
A former soldier with PTSD faces life in jail after he stabbed his partner to death hours after she reported him for drink-driving.
Michelle Egge-Bailey, 54, was ‘left to die’ by Stephen Lawton, 45, who stabbed her in the neck three times and once in the right arm as she lay in bed. One of the wounds cut her jugular vein. A jury was told he murdered Michelle “out of anger and revenge after she reported him for drink driving.”
After her slaughter Lawton claimed he could not remember stabbing her and ‘lost control’ – saying he thought it might have been a dream, his trial heard
But Senior Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team said: “Michelle Egge-Bailey would still be alive today if Lawton had not stabbed her. Lawton then left her to die.
“It wasn’t until he phoned a friend and told them she was dead it was reported to us. This conviction highlights the tragic consequences of violence against women and girls and domestic abuse. I would urge anyone in this situation to report it to us, or other agencies so we can safeguard victims and bring offenders to justice.”
His trial heard how police arrived to find Michelle dead on March 11th in the Cottingley flat she shared with Lawton. This week Lawton, who denied murder but admitted manslaughter, was unanimously found guilty of murder by a jury at Bradford crown court.
The court heard Lawton, who suffers from PTSD and depression after tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, claimed Ms Egge-Bailey had been making insulting remarks.
He told the court she had been drinking bottles of prosecco and he had been having Stella and they had been arguing throughout the day,
The court heard his claims Ms Egge-Bailey would also make “nasty” comments about his family after their deaths.
“She said my mother was too fat and unhealthy to fight leukaemia and that’s why she died,” Mr Lawton said. “She said the way he used to drink and smoke caused the throat cancer and that was why he died. It was his own fault.”
“She said the same about my brother, it was his lifestyle. It might have been true but I didn’t need to hear that. I was upset when she made those comments. She was just being nasty. She saw I was trying to grieve and she wouldn’t let me.”
Addressing Lawton after the verdict was delivered, His Honour Judge Jonathan Rose, said: “You will know that life imprisonment is the only sentence (you can expect).”
About the PTSD Lawton said he suffered, he told the jury. “I was having flashbacks and nightmares. They persist to the present day.”
Mr Lawton said he had been on two six-month tours of Iraq and two six-month tours of Afghanistan. He told the court: “The first tour of Afghanistan was the worst time in my life. Every time we left the patrol base we were shot at. I saw friends and colleagues shot.”
The defence claimed Ms Egge-Bailey would frequently get into arguments with Lawton after she had drunk too much and would mock him over his PTSD and had accused him of being unfaithful.
Lawton’s attack came a day after he was arrested by police following Ms Egge-Bailey making a report that he was drink-driving.
Lawton claimed he was sitting on the bed next to his victim, trying to comfort her and calm her down as she shouted and screamed at him. He said the last words she said to him before he picked up a knife were: “F*** off, and get out of my house.”
Lawton said he was shaking and felt dizzy as if he was going to pass out and claimed to have “no recollection” of picking up a knife from the bedside table that Ms Egge-Bailey used to cut fruit.
He told the court: “I can remember her still shouting, and then I lost control. I can’t remember anything what I did after that.”
Prosecutor Geraldine Kelly said: “Nothing at all? Are you just saying that because you don’t want to explain to the jury what you did?” Lawton replied: “I’m not saying that. I know what I’d done.”
Miss Kelly said: “You can’t help with whether or not she saw you coming with that knife?” Lawton replied: “No, I can’t.”
Miss Kelly suggested Lawton was in the bedroom for about 5-10 minutes “before you snapped and stabbed her” and that she was unconscious and unable to defend herself.
Addressing Lawton, His Honour Judge Jonathan Rose said: “This jury has found you guilty of the offence of murder, and as you know the only sentence this court can impose for such an offence is one of life imprisonment.. You are now remanded in custody.”
In a statement after the verdict Ms Egge-Bailey’s mother Kathleen Da Born and stepfather Jeremy Da Born said: “The traumatic ending of Michelle’s life will remain with us, always.
“This violent attack and murder of our daughter committed by Stephen Lawton may have concluded with his conviction, but as Michelle’s parents this brings us no closure.
“We would like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service, West Yorkshire Police family liaison team, and those that have helped and supported us and Michelle throughout. We would now ask for privacy and respect at this difficult time.” The date of Lawton’s sentencing has not yet been confirmed.