A murderer who stalked and stabbed his ex-partner before kicking her head like a football as she lay dying will be sentenced tomorrow (Tuesday).
Jason Liam Cooper, 28, brutally attacked mum-of-two Laura Jayne Stuart on Love Lane in Denbigh during the early hours of August 12, 2017.
He will be sentenced by High Court Judge Mr Justice Simon Picken at Mold Crown Court at 11am on Tuesday, March 27.
At his trial, Cooper tried to evade the murder charge, claiming a drink problem had caused him “abnormal mental functioning” at the time of the killing.
But on March 16, following a nine-day trial, his pleas were unanimously rejected by a jury of eight men and four women, who took just 55 minutes to find him guilty.
Jealous Cooper, who never accepted his control over Miss Stuart was over, was also found guilty of the wounding with intent of her friend David Roberts.
Mr Roberts, who was stabbed three times, bravely tried to step in and save the 33-year-old care worker after Cooper knifed her twice in the back and once in her chest, puncturing a major artery to her heart.
As she lay bleeding, Cooper callously kicked her in the face “more than once” in a style one witness described as “like someone taking a penalty in a Premiership game”.
Miss Stuart died as a result of catastrophic blood loss at a Stoke hospital the day after the attack, surrounded by her family.
The court heard how Cooper blamed Miss Stuart for losing his job, his financial problems and heavy drinking.
However, prosecuting barrister David Elias QC pointed out that he found work within three days, Miss Stuart had helped him financially and there was no record to support his assertion he had serious alcohol problems.
He bullied and stalked his former partner via social media and in person, sending vile messages threatening her life to her and her friends.
After the attack, he was seen smiling at the scene before telling police: “Thing is mate, I’m not sorry about that (Laura), I am about him (Mr Roberts).”
Mr Elias QC said: “Cooper knew exactly what he was doing that night. The jealousy and hatred that had built up over the preceding days and weeks culminated in his actions.
“As he had painstakingly threatened in many messages to Laura Stuart and others, he hunted her down in the street and killed her.”
Writing on Facebook, Miss Stuart’s mother Elizabeth Griffiths thanked people for their support and kindness but also appealed for understanding for Cooper’s family.
She said: “I personally would like to ask people to support Jason’s family as well. I am sure they are suffering as much as we are but in a different way.”
