The last hours of a mum who was killed by her partner before he died in a car crash have emerged at court. Becci Rees-Hughes had been stabbed multiple times and suffered head trauma before she died at her East Yorkshire home, Hull Coroner's Court heard.
At the opening of an inquest into her death, the court heard that police believe her partner Ben Crosby attacked and killed Becci at her home on Samman Road, Beverley, on July 25. It emerged that police were alerted after Crosby had called his parents to Samman Road, where they discovered Becci's body, Hull Live reports.
Crosby later died after a crash involving his car and a van following a police chase. Becci's murder shocked her community, with tributes paid to the Hull University student who was described as 'lovely, fun, caring and bright'.
A full coroner's investigation will now be carried out into Becci's death by Professor Paul Marks. During the inquest opening, Humberside Police's Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Allan Curtis, said the 37-year-old mother of two had been working at the Firepit Beverley pub and restaurant, in Flemingate shopping centre, that night when Crosby arrived at the bar.
She finished work at 9pm and the two were seen drinking for a short time before leaving for her home. At around 1.45am, the two were seen on CCTV leaving her home, but were believed to have returned to her Samman Road address again.
At 6am, Ben's parents received a call from him. They went to the address and found Becci's body before the police were alerted.
Crosby later died at 6.30am when his Volkswagen Polo crashed into a Ford Transit on the A1034 near to Hornsea following a short police pursuit. He was understood to have collided head-on with a Ford Transit van in a 30mph zone.
The van driver, who had no connection to the incident in Beverley, was seriously injured and sustained life-changing injuries. DCI Curtis told the hearing police believed it was a domestic violence related incident.
He said Becci suffered multiple stab wounds and head trauma. It is thought she lost her life due to blood loss. DCI Curtis said police currently have no other suspects and they have evidence to believe Crosby killed her.
Becci's body has been returned to her family. Due to the circumstances of the incident, Coroner Marks said he will be investigating the deaths of both Becci Rees-Hughes and and Ben Crosby.
He offered his sincerest condolences to family members affected by the tragic incident and adjourned the inquest to carry out the necessary fact finding exercises to determine their causes of death.
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