A KILLER who knifed his fiancee to death made a chilling call to his parents before dying a police chase, an inquest heard.
Ben Crosby, 46, left his will “in a prominent position” on the kitchen table before stabbing Becci Rees-Hughes 26 times.
SWNSBecci was found stabbed to death after Ben Crosby called his parents[/caption]
FacebookCrosby died in a police chase after fleeing the house[/caption]
He then phoned his parents, saying: “I’ve messed up really bad. I’ve killed her.”
When they arrived at the home in Beverley, East Yorkshire, they discovered mum Becci, 37, slumped on the sofa.
Crosby told his dad “I’m gone” when he threatened to call police and gave them a cuddle before fleeing in his VW Polo.
An inquest heard he reached speeds of 84mph as officers followed him before crashing head-on into a van – leaving the driver with life-changing injuries.
Crosby was declared dead shortly after the horror on July 25, 2022, with a jury returning a verdict of accidental death.
Hull Coroner’s Court was told he had discovered Becci was having an affair with a chef at the pub where she worked as a waitress while studying physics at Hull University.
The pair agreed to stay together and got engaged but on the day before she died, Becci messaged the other man, telling him: “I can’t get over you”.
Becci had previously told him she was splitting up from Crosby, who she described as “jealous”, and said they were only staying together for the sake of their children.
Crosby knifed his fiancee multiple times and bludgeoned her with a baseball bat.
He then sparked a huge manhunt when he left her bloodied body in their home.
The inquest was told police had attempted to block his car but he sped away in the direction of Seaton on the A1035.
How you can get help
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
Always keep your phone nearby.
Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
If you are in danger, call 999.
Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
He then cut the corner of a bend and drove into the electrician’s van.
Jurors heard he Crosby didn’t brake and seemed to deliberately ram the van coming in the opposite direction.
A forensic collision investigator said while the electrician tried to take evasive measures “no such attempt was made by the Polo”.
The jury concluded Crosby died accidentally after he negotiated the bend “on the opposite carriageway and collided with a Ford Transit van”.
A previous inquest into Becci’s death ruled she was unlawfully killed.
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