Mother beaten to death as her sons hid

Nov 28 2008 by Ben Guy, The Journal

A DRINK-FUELLED killer beat his former partner to death in a jealous rage, a court heard yesterday.

Stuart Cummings went to the home he previously shared with Kelly McKitten, 31, in the early hours of the morning after a new girlfriend rejected his advances.

And after finding Ms McKitten talking on the phone to a man she had met a few days earlier, he unleashed an “explosion of sexual jealousy”, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The 27-year-old construction worker repeatedly kicked, punched and stamped on Ms McKitten, whom he also raped as she lay dying from head injuries, the court was told.

He failed to seek any help for Ms McKitten who was already dead when paramedics arrived at the house in Gardiner Crescent, Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-St, County Durham.

The attack, which lasted several hours in different rooms, happened while the couple’s four-year-old son and Ms McKitten’s eight-year-old son from a previous relationship were in the house.

“One child heard shouting from the time his mother opened the door,” said Christopher Knox, prosecuting. “He heard his mother crying. He thought she was petrified. He heard his dad kicking and punching. He heard slapping noises. He describes seeing his mother sitting at the bottom of the stairs with her head in her hands crying.

“The boys were told to go back to bed and they went, hiding under their quilts, clearly distressed.”

Cummings, of Derwent Close, Sacriston, County Durham, admitted murdering Ms McKitten, who suffered around 100 injuries and died from brain damage.

He was jailed for life and must serve at least 24 years behind bars before he can apply for parole.

Passing sentence, Judge David Hodson said he took into account Cummings’ guilty plea, genuine remorse and lack of previous convictions for violence.

But he told him: “This can only be properly described as a frenzied brutal and persistent attack of physical violence extended over a period of some hours coupled with sexual violence.”

Tim Roberts, QC, defending, said: “He accepts how he alone must bear the full and excruciating responsibility for the irreparable harm he has done by his actions.”