'Body in the boot' killer found guilty of murder (From Warrington Guardian)

'Body in the boot' killer found guilty of murder

4:32pm Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News By Matthew Hobbs

‘BODY in the boot’ killer John Yates has been found guilty of murder after beating his wife of 30 years to death and driving her body to a police station in Wales.

The ‘violent and jealous bully’ was convicted of the murder of mum-of-two Barbara Yates, aged 49, at Caernarfon Crown Court today, Tuesday.

Yates, of Derby Drive, Padgate, showed no emotion as the verdict was delivered by a jury after two hours of deliberations.

Judge Merfyn Hughes QC said: “You have denied her murder but admitted her killing.

“There is only one sentence that I can pass which will be of life imprisonment.”

A further hearing next month will decide the minimum term of that sentence.

The court heard how police still do not know the exact location of the murder, but that it was somewhere in Warrington.

‘Controlling and possessive’ Yates headbutted, strangled, punched and stamped on his ‘fun loving’ wife, leaving her with fatal head, face and neck injuries.

He then drove her body to a traffic police station in St Asaph on July 18 last year.

Yates denied murdering her because she wanted a divorce.

Wyn Lloyd Jones, prosecuting, said the victim, who drove a taxi for disabled children in the town, had been abused for 30 years.

In 1987 she was admitted to hospital after he allegedly punched her repeatedly, tried to strangle her, and banged her head on a car dashboard.

The relationship ended in 2009 when Mrs Yates walked out, but her husband could not control his jealousy.

In 2011 she was taken to hospital after a prolonged attack by him when he used a hammer to hit her in the head.

She was murdered seven months later by Yates, who was on police bail for stealing 35 pairs of shoes and a new dress from her home in Padgate and setting them on fire.

Following the hearing, sister Cathryn Huddlestone, said: ”He is a brutal animal.

“He shouldn’t be free to roam after what he did to my sister.

“I can’t believe he could have that much anger and jealousy.

“If he loved her he should have let her get along with her life.”

Another sister, Angela Hyland, said :”He’s controlled her and abused her mentally and physically and tried to get rid of her body like garbage.

“Barbara wanted a life of her own but he wouldn’t allow it.

“He was a controlling monster.”