THIS is the moment a killer calmly rolled a cigarette as he was arrested for murdering his girlfriend after she visited her baby’s grave.
James Campbell battered Colette Myers with a baseball bat he dubbed “Benny the bat” so savagely he caused injuries similar to a fall from a high building.
NCJMEDIAJames Campbell can be seen rolling a cigarette before he is arrested[/caption]
NCJMediaThe monster battered his girlfriend Colette Myers to death[/caption]
NCJMediaCampbell has now been convicted of murder[/caption]
The monster, 33, then claimed he had found his partner of ten years, 33, dead in their bed at home in Lemington, Newcastle.
Footage has now been released of the moment Campbell was arrested.
The killer can be seen rolling a cigarette as he lies to police about how Colette died.
He puts his head in his crossed arms as he gestures to officers about how he found the mum.
Campbell then shakes his head as he is handcuffed by officers, who begin searching him.
He is now facing life in jail after he was convicted of murdering Colette.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the horror unfolded on April 20 last year after Colette had been to visit her nine-week-old daughter’s grave.
She spent the day with a friend before returning home at around 10.30pm.
Campbell then told a neighbour Colette was dead and the police and ambulance service raced to the scene.
He claimed he had found Colette cold on the bed with her arms above her head.
Campbell said they had both been drinking the night before and he couldn’t recall the last time he saw her.
But a post mortem showed Colette’s head injury had been caused by “direct blunt trauma”.
She was hit so severely an artery in her neck and spine tore, leading to a bleed on the brain.
The court heard her injuries were consistent with “falling from a multi-storey building, a pedestrian being hit by a car or as a result of an assault”.
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.
She had been in a “volatile” relationship with Campbell, who assaulted her previously, since her mid-20s.
Her family said: “Colette was a much-loved sister, auntie, mother and friend. She was the life and soul of the party who would help anyone out, even if it meant she would go without.
“Colette had so much to live for, yet she was only 33 years old when she was brutally murdered by her live-in partner of ten years.
“Colette was the victim of domestic abuse, and her death could have been prevented if she had sought help.
“If you are a victim of domestic abuse, you may be feeling isolated, ashamed and alone. Please know you are not alone, and you are not to blame. Above all you do not have to suffer in silence – Please seek help.”
NCJMEDIACampbell claimed he woke up to find Colette dead[/caption]
NCJMEDIAHe was arrested after medics found she had a blunt force trauma[/caption]
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