The friend of a Fathers for Justice campaigner and his young wife was today jailed for 34 years for brutally murdering them in their own home as their young son slept in the next room. Stanley Elliott, 53, was handed two life sentences for the 'frenzied' stabbing of 'defenceless' Geoffrey Hibbert, 61, and his 29-year-old wife Michelle shortly after they returned home from a night out.
In the 'dreadful' attack, Elliott, who had been babysitting their son, stabbed Mr Hibbert 58 times in the neck and torso and Mrs Hibbert seven times. He slit her throat as she made a desperate 999 call.
The Honourable Justice Neil Garnham jailed Elliott for 34 years, telling him: "This was a prolonged, angry and frenzied knife attack by you on two defenceless people that caused them both great pain and led, eventually, to their deaths. This must have been the most dreadful and terrifying of deaths for Geoffrey and Michelle. They each knew that you were stabbing their spouse.
"They must have endured significant mental and physical pain and suffering before they died. You were a guest as [the son's] babysitter and you abused that status in the most egregious of ways.
"The effect of your murderous behaviour has been to leave that child and orphan to be brought up in care. You are going to be in your 80s by the time you are able to apply for parole. You will serve a minimum of 34 years."
During the trial jurors had heard a harrowing recording of the desperate emergency call made by a terrified Mrs Hibbert from Elliott's mobile phone - which Mr Justice Garnham suggested jurors will 'never forget'. At the beginning of the call Michelle is heard breathing heavily, and telling police: "Somebody has stabbed me and stabbed my husband... I am in my house."
Upon being asked where she has been stabbed Mrs Hibbert responds: "In my stomach... My husband has been stabbed all over." Mrs Hibbert is then asked if she is bleeding, but after answering 'yes' she becomes suddenly panicked and screams.
She says, 'No, no, no, no', before pleading with someone: "I have got to look after [my son], please." Her cries then suddenly cease - though the call continues - and Mrs Hibbert is not heard again.
Mr Justice Garnham added: "The jury listened to that call many times during the trial - and it is something I suspect they will never forget. Near the beginning of the call Michelle is asked who had [attacked them]. Her reply was clear and unequivocal: Stan Elliott.
"She was pleading with you to spare her for [her son]. In the last seconds we heard Michelle screaming at her attacker, then we heard the sound of Michelle's throat being cut by you.
"Michelle and Geoff were dead. Their now orphaned son was asleep in his bedroom."
Elliott was found guilty of the couple's murder at Winchester Crown Court, Hants, earlier this month. During his four week trial the court heard the Hibberts had gone out for drinks and asked Elliott to babysit their young boy at their semi-detached bungalow in Basingstoke, Hants.
But following an argument between Elliott and the couple when they returned in the early hours, he 'turned' on them and stabbed them as the youngster slept in the next room. Elliott, from the village of Sherborne St John near Basingstoke, Hants, had been 'trusted' to 'babysit' the couple's young son on June 19, 2021.
He fled the property on his motorcycle before the arrival of the police but was arrested at his home having disposed of clothing that would have 'undoubtedly forensically linked him to the attacks', according to prosecutors. Prosecutors suggested the incident could have been linked with a defence statement written by Mr Hibbert which blamed Elliott for a burglary they were both charged with in early 2020.
Elliott was on bail for the offence at the time of the Hibberts' attack. In the statement found torn up in a bin at the property, Mr Hibbert claimed he had loaned Elliott a mobile phone found at the scene of a bingo hall burglary in January 2020.
More than £28,000 was stolen during the raid on Buzz Bingo in Basingstoke, Hants, and Mr Hibbert was charged after his phone was found. It was suggested Elliott, who has two children of his own, may have flown into a rage and murdered the Hibberts after learning they planned to 'throw him under the bus' regarding the case.
Mr Justice Garnham said: "It seems likely you argued with Geoff, probably about who should take the blame for the burglary of the bingo."
Mr Hibbert was a campaigner for Fathers for Justice – a father’s rights organisation known for its stunts where protestors dress as comic superheroes and climb buildings, bridges and monuments. In 2008, Mr Hibbert scaled a gantry on the M25 dressed as Batman as part of a Fathers for Justice protest and unfurled a banner with pictures of his eight-year-old daughter, bringing thousands of cars to a halt.
He was eventually arrested on suspicion of causing danger to road users. Speaking at the time he said: "I cannot describe how not being able to see her makes me feel. If I had taken her away I would be in prison for kidnap but my ex-partner can do it and it's fine. Where is the justice?"
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