A skydiving instructor who murdered his partner by strangling her during an altercation at her home has been jailed. Ashley Kemp, 55, confessed to killing mother-of-three Clair Armstrong and was handed a 19-year prison sentence.
The man, whose partner was also a skydiving instructor, admits he headbutted the 50-year-old woman and broke her nose during a violent exchange in her house in Elm Way in Messingham, Scunthorpe, on November 5, 2022, reports GrimsbyLive.
Mr Kemp, of Robinson Grove, Hibaldstow, was convicted by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court after a six-day trial, after he denied murdering Ms Armstrong who taught skydiving at the Drop Zone club in the area.
He was jailed at a sentencing hearing before Hull Crown Court. Judge John Thackray KC told him: "You committed the offence in the home of Clair, a place where she was entitled to feel safe and secure."
Her three sons were said to be "devastated" and suffering from "pain and heartache" following their mother's death. Kemp was said to have had intent to kill Ms Armstrong even thought it was a "briefly held intention".
The man disposed of her phone because there was evidence contained on it that was "adverse" to him as Judge Thackray accepted the murder was not of a premeditated nature but Kemp delayed reporting the death and lied about when it happened.
"I do not accept that you are genuinely remorseful," he said. "During your evidence, I detected nothing but self-pity from beginning to end."
Defence barrister Mohammed Nawaz KC said: "The actions of the defendant caused untold loss and sorrow and it's difficult not to be moved by the sentiments expressed by the family.
"This was, it would appear, a spur of the moment incident that led to this violence. The Crown accept that there wasn't any premeditation. This was an offence out of character."
The relationship between Kemp and Ms Armstrong had become 'strained' but there had been significant periods of healthiness and love with their future together being discussed. There had been no history of domestic violence from Kemp towards her or previous partners, the court heard.
Kemp had no prior convictions or cautions. He had, at various times during the proceedings, expressed genuine remorse. He showed no emotion being led out of the dock to the cells.
In a statement on behalf of Ms Armstrong's family, her brother-in-law, Ian Farrell, said their lives had been "changed forever" and the discovery of her death "shattered us all and left a huge hole in our lives". Her death was said to have happened in "horrific circumstances" and "we all miss her incredibly".
Ms Armstrong was discovered dead under a duvet on a bed at her home as Kemp was later found on a grass verge off the road after his vehicle crashed in to, as he claimed, a tree. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and asked: "Who have I murdered?"
He told officers Ms Armstrong had become "hysterical" about an allegation he attempted to rape a teenage girl and tried to calm her down, but in vain, the court heard. The last sighting of the beauty salon owner was on CCTV and showed her leaving the The Horn pub in Messingham not far from her home after a meal with Kemp and four others, including her brother Darren, her sister Sarah and their partners.
The footage was filmed around 24 hours prior to Kemp making a 999 call to police at 12.41am on November 6. He was said to be "rather vague" about when he strangled his partner in an interview with police. Ms Armstrong was believed not to have responded to WhatsApp messages sent to her which was out of character as the prosecution believed Kemp had killed her earlier in the day.
CCTV showed Kemp leaving her home at 9.16am on the Saturday with "very clear injuries to his face" even though he had told police during interview that his injuries were from a collision in which he tried to kill himself.
Kemp told the court during his defence evidence that he admitted headbutting Ms Armstrong during an argument and breaking her nose but he denied losing his temper and claimed that he could not believe she was dead. He denied killing Ms Armstrong in a fit of temper.
The court heard Kemp telephoned Humberside Police at 12.41am on Sunday November 6 and said: "I've killed my girlfriend. We got into a fight and I ended up strangling her.
"She is upstairs on the bed in the main bedroom. We just had an argument, that was all, and it just got heated. She just started thrashing out and I just reacted. I never react .... I pinned her down and just choked her."
The minimum term he will have to serve before he can be considered for release will be 19 years but a period of 176 days he has already spent in custody on remand will be deducted.
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