24/07/2012

19-Year-Old Guilty Of Facebook Killing

A 19-year-old man has been convicted of the murder of Katie Wynter, who he met on Facebook.

Miss Wynter was stabbed 13 times on Boxing Day after babysitting her sister's two young children at Borehamwood in Hertfordshire.

Bushby, a black belt karate expert, also of Borehamwood, was convicted at St Albans Crown Court of her murder.

Miss Wynter was said to have had a "secretive" relationship with Bushby.

The court heard that Bushby created four fictitious friends on Facebook, which he used to try and cover up his crime. But police were able to confirm, using his computers unique IP number, that Bushby had created the accounts.

The friends were called Dan Tress, Cyn Darwin, Shane Pleuon and Krystal Stanguard.

The court also hear that blood was found on the front door of Bushby's home, which he said had come from gloves he was wearing given to him by Dan Tress.

Michael Speak, prosecuting, said: "If Dan Tress does not exist, your story is an outright lie. Where is he?"

Bushby replied: "I don't know. I wish I did."

The jury of eight women and four men were told Ms Wynter's body was left slumped against the fridge in the kitchen of her sister's home on 26 December.

Her mother, who came to the house on the morning after Boxing Day, found her in a pool of blood.

She had 23 separate wounds on her body, including 13 serious stab injuries and some on her hands, as she had tried to shield herself from the attack.

Bushby will be sentenced on Wednesday.

(H)

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