A man has pleaded guilty to murdering a young couple and raping another woman.
Katie Higton and Steven Harnett were killed at a property in Huddersfield in May this year. Marcus Osbourne today (Wednesday) admitted two counts of murder, YorkshireLive reports..
He 'planned the attacks and executed them over a period of several hours', the court was told. The 35-year-old, of Harpe Inge, Dalton, also pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment and rape of another woman at Leeds Crown Court.
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He will be sentenced on October 4 this year. After news of their deaths, tributes poured in for Katie and Steven. Mum-of-four Katie was described as 'bubbly, outgoing, fun' and 'a great mum'.
Steven was said to have had a 'heart of gold'. The IOPC said West Yorkshire Police had referred itself to it after it had had contact with Katie and Steven in the days leading up to their deaths, as well as Osbourne.
An IPOC spokesperson said: "We have received a mandatory referral from West Yorkshire Police linked to the suspected murder of two people in Huddersfield. This is due to the fact officers had contact with both victims, and a man who has since been arrested on suspicion of murder, in the days prior to this tragic incident.
"We will now assess the available information to determine what further action may be required. Our thoughts are with all those affected by these events."
After he pleaded guilty at the short ten-minute hearing on Wednesday, Recorder of Leeds His Honour Judge Guy Kearl KC told Osbourne to expect a life sentence. He said: "You have pleaded guilty to the murder of two people - your former partner Katie Higton and her subsequent partner Steven Harnett - in circumstances in which you planned the attacks and you executed them over a period of several hours on May 15 of this year.
"You will be sentenced to a term of life imprisonment. The minimum term of that sentence is what is to be determined. It will be set at the hearing date on or about the 4th of October."
Osbourne was remanded into custody.
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