A Tesco Extra security guard was yesterday found guilty of murder after he stabbed his ex-partner 21 times and grinned as he told police ‘I hope she is dead.’
Matthew Farmer, 42, knifed his ex-partner of 15 years, Stacey Clay, 39, in a frenzied attack, in the garden of her home in Bestwood, Nottingham. Ms Clay, who had two children with Farmer, was found at the house with serious injuries at around 6amOn May 19, last year.
But the mother-of-four, who ended their relationship in April last year, died at Queen’s Medical Centre on June 2. Nottingham Crown Court heard Farmer was threatening to kill his partner and had previously been acting ‘threateningly’ toward her.
PC Zoe East Tsed Farmer while he was trying to strangle Ms Clay. PC East said to the court that he looked straight into my eyes and told me: ‘I pray she’s dead.
Farmer, who was seen entering Ms Clay’s backyard hours before her murder, was captured by police. According to BBC reports, she told police that he had been “prowling around in the window” just hours prior. Police searched her house but Farmer was not found.
When Ms Clay was going to her garden to smoke, Farmer appeared from behind the grill and attacked her with a kitchen knife that he bought hours before.
Matthew Farmer (pictured), 42, stabbed his ex-partner Stacey Clay (39) repeatedly in her garden in Bestwood.
Just days earlier, Clay installed CCTV in the house she shared with Farmer. She was able to hear her screaming as Farmer staggered her.
According to NottinghamLive, Farmer was clutching a chocolate bar and energy drink while he hid behind the barbecue.
He answered the question, “No, not at all.”
John Cammegh, QC, the prosecution, stated that Farmer did not express any regret for his actions.
Farmer replied then to Cammegh, “Yes, sir. It is a daily struggle to hate oneself. It is a crime that I should die.
Yesterday’s jury verdict was delivered after only 30 minutes of deliberation.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Farmer was behaving “threateningly” towards his ex partner following their split and tried to strangle her. Stacey Clay
A 42-year-old man had told jurors that it felt like being trapped within another person’s body at the time of murder.
He said he was thinking about ending his life in the back garden and was ‘going to slit my wrists’.
Farmer, Logan Street, Bulwell.
Days before, Clay had set up CCTV cameras at Farmer’s home. She was able to hear her screaming as Farmer staggered her. Pictured is the Nottingham Forensics Unit.