Savage killer Matthew Farmer faces a life sentence when he returns to court to learn his fate after he was convicted of the murder of his ex-partner.
Ex-doorman Farmer bought a Go Cook paring knife for £1.75 hours before he lay in wait under a large barbecue in her garden and caught Stacey Clay by surprise as she smoked a cigarette near her fence.
Farmer, who was found guilty of her murder after a jury deliberated for just 30 minutes on Thursday, January 20, was filmed in the throes of the bloody and terrifying attack on a CCTV camera Miss Clay had installed for her own safety.
It came after Miss Clay, 39, had endured weeks of harassment and out of the blue visits from Tesco Extra security worker Farmer, who was previously unfaithful to her.
The distressing footage of the attack was played at Farmer's trial after he denied he killed her, claiming he went to the garden with the knife to kill himself in front of Miss Clay.
The force of the knife blows into Miss Clay snapped off the blade which had to be removed from her stomach as surgeons battled to save her. But, sadly, the mother-of-four, of Andover Road, Bestwood, never regained consciousness and died two weeks later.
Farmer will be sentenced at Notttingham Crown Court tomorrow, Friday, January 21, and Judge Gregory Dickinson QC, the Recorder of Nottingham, will decide the minimum term he will serve before he can apply for parole.
Prosecutor John Cammegh QC said Miss Clay's mother had been "dreadfully affected" and she did not want to give evidence in the case - which was why her statement was read out to the jury during the trial.
Further statements will be provided by Miss Clay's sisters, who were in court, which Mr Cammegh said he hoped would give the judge a broader view of the impact of these tragic events on them and others.
Judge Dickinson said Farmer, 42, of Logan Street, Bulwell, would be brought to court to be sentenced.
Before the case adjourned, the judge also turned to the family, who had remained dignified throughout proceedings, and said: "Thank you for the way you have behaved. It is remarkable. I will see you in the morning".
Detective Inspector Rebecca Hodgman, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Stacey’s murder was brutal and horrific and our thoughts remain with her family, children and friends who have lost their mother, daughter and friend.
“Stacey was a much-loved mother who had ended a relationship with Farmer and was hoping to move on with her life.
“The vicious attack that took place on 19 May left her with horrific injuries and she sadly died two weeks later in hospital.
“We have worked incredibly hard to bring together all of the evidence and have worked closely with other teams throughout the force to bring Farmer to justice for his actions on that morning in May.
“We welcome the jury’s outcome of this trial in finding Farmer guilty of Stacey’s murder.
“I hope it can now bring Stacey’s family some degree of comfort knowing that Farmer will be behind bars for her murder. On behalf of Nottinghamshire Police I would like to once again issue our sincere condolences to Stacey’s family and friends on their loss.”
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