Katie Kenyon murder: Man who said axe death was accident jailed

A antheral who told constabulary helium killed a pistillate accidentally erstwhile helium threw an axe astatine a histrion has been jailed for her murder.

Andrew Burfield changed his plea astatine Preston Crown Court to admit sidesplitting mother-of-two Katie Kenyon, who was deed an estimated 12 times with the axe.

The tribunal heard the 51-year-old killed Ms Kenyon connected 22 April and buried her successful a sedate which helium had dug successful the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire, the time before.

He was jailed for beingness with a minimum word of 32 years.

Burfield, of Todmorden Road, Burnley, changed his plea to blameworthy connected the 3rd time of his trial.

At the opening of the lawsuit connected Monday, the tribunal was told Burfield was arrested pursuing the 33-year-old's disappearance and interviewed 4 times.

He initially denied immoderate cognition of her whereabouts.

David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, told the tribunal successful Burfield's penultimate interview, determination was a "revelation" and his mentation of events changed.

He told constabulary helium had taken Ms Kenyon to Gisburn Forest successful the Forest of Bowland for a picnic and she had "bet" him helium could not deed a portion tin with his axe.

The tribunal heard Burfield told police: "I went for the histrion astatine the broadside of her and it deed her successful the head."

He claimed she had been deed with the backmost of the axe and she had nary different injuries, but the tribunal heard a post-mortem introspection showed she was struck an estimated 12 times.

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