Life Sentence For Double Murder

A man who murdered his former girlfriend and her new partner has been jailed for life.

John Moody, 45, from Norwich, was found guilty of the murders of Kenneth Snell and Karen Brown in Cringleford last year, at Norwich Crown Court on Thursday.

He had pleaded not guilty to the murders on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but admitted being responsible for their deaths.

Mr Snell, 65, and Miss Brown, 39, were both stabbed to death at Mr Snell's home at Brettingham Avenue, Cringleford, on October 31 last year.

Moody will serve a minimum sentence of thirty years.

Commenting on the case, DCI Andy Gray, who led the investigation said: "I am relieved that John Moody has been found guilty of a frenzied and violent attack that cost the lives of two totally decent and innocent people.

"Mr Snell and Miss Brown had embarked on a new relationship that they kept secret because of Moody's jealous and violent nature. Their murders were truly shocking."

A statement issued by Miss Brown's family described as a "wonderful, caring and loving daughter, sister and auntie". The statement said: "Karen was an angel: a light in everyone's life, who could never do enough for her family and friends. We all spent many precious times with her in the last fourteen months much laughter and tears shared and a special bond and memories built that can never be forgotten. She had at last found happiness with Ken after years of torment and was rebuilding her life."

A statement released by Mr Snell's family said that they were "devastated" by his death. It said: "He has been taken from us by a man committing the most heinous crime imaginable. A crime of which a nightmare could not exceed. We will now try to move our lives forward and say our final farewells to a brother, father, grandfather and friend who was the most gentle, loving and adored person."

(KMcA/BMcC)