Thug beat partner to death leaving her with injuries usually seen in a car crash
A 'jealous' thug has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend by punching her in the abdomen so hard he caused her liver to rupture.
Charlie Booth, 27, had admitted manslaughter but denied murdering mother-of-two Lauren Jade Howe, 26, at their flat in Bradford on July 24 last year.
But a ten-day trial at Leeds Crown Court heard Booth savagely beat Ms Howe after she returned to their home on Tennis Way, Baildon, following a night out with family.
Jurors heard about Booth's control over Ms Howe during a relationship which was "characterised by jealousy and anger".
Booth had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, claiming he and Ms Howe had had a "scrap" when she returned home on the morning of her death.
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Booth dumped Ms Howe's body in an area near her home (Yorkshire Live/MEN Media)He told jurors the pair had a "volatile" relationship and said they both could be violent.
He said when Ms Howe returned home on July 24, he "knew she wouldn't be happy" as he had "smashed" the house up.
He said Ms Howe kicked him and he grabbed her by the face and she held the top of his head.
He said at a later point she "lunged" towards him and he punched her in the abdomen.
The court heard the assault caused a severe tear to Ms Howe's liver and left her with external injuries including bruises to her face, arms and legs. Booth denied intending to cause her serious harm.
Jurors heard he then dumped her body in an area close to her home and hid their shared mobile phone at a neighbour's house following the attack. Ms Howe was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Jurors heard how Booth had threatened to burn Ms Howe's sister's house down and harassed her family the night before and had even called the police to report an assault on him which did not happen.
A friend of Ms Howe's said Booth would constantly ring him to find out where his girlfriend was (Yorkshire Live/MEN Media)
Ms Howe was rushed to hospital after suffering severe injuries (Yorkshire Live/MEN Media)Following the murder, Booth claimed Ms Howe "might have overdosed" but told neighbours he had killed her. Booth told them "while she was in bed she collapsed" and she "didn't move".
He told jurors Ms Howe went to bed having told him she "felt like she was ODing" and he poured water on her.
Booth - the father of her two children - claimed he did not call the police "because of the state of the house" and "they could see how it all looked".
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During the trial, Ms Howe's friend, Stevie Clare Hodgson-Curtley, gave evidence and told of occasions when Booth would "constantly" ring her to see where his girlfriend was and "who she was with".
Ms Hodgson-Curtley said she "hated" Booth and Ms Howe had told her about an incident when he had pinned her up against a wall by her throat.
She also said Booth had thrown a concrete brick at her on one occasion when he was "intoxicated and on drugs" and that he was "very violent and angry".
His Honour Judge Stubbs said Booth, of Albert Road, Saltaire, would be sentenced on Thursday (Feb 9).
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