24 years for ex-stablehand who 'let out his demons' and murdered Yorkshire riding instructor

Daniel Edwards, 22, repeatedly stabbed “gentle and kind” riding instructor Fiona Southwell leaving her blood-covered body lying in a barn at a farm near Hornsea after the “vicious” attack last July 15.

The jury at Hull Crown Court found Edwards guilty of murder after three hours of deliberation at Hull Crown Court.

The court heard that Edwards had an IQ score of 69, which “would be indicative of learning difficulties”, and meaning 98 per cent of his peers would achieve higher scores.

Other tests suggested a “moral reasoning” development at the level of a nine-year-old child or younger.

Sentencing Edwards to life imprisonment with a minimum of 24 years, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC said he had a “low level of intellect” but also a “deep-rooted and ingrained level of cunning and deceit” and had told a series of lies.

It was plain that by mid-July Edwards was in a “warped frame of mind” and on the morning of last July 15 was “so angry and resentful” he hatched a plan to kill Miss Southwell, who had replaced him in his job at Grange Farm two months previously.

The Judge added: “To use some of the language of the Facebook posting you later shared - you let out the demons within you.”

Edwards, who was working on neighbouring Maxholme Farm, armed himself with a knife and a rag to wipe it and went the short distance to Grange Farm, launching a “merciless and savage” attack on Miss Southwell, who was stabbed 19 times.

The Judge said Edwards, who was later found to have Miss Southwell’s blood on his ankle, jeans and trainers, had not uttered a “shred of genuine remorse or regret.”

The court heard a moving statement from Miss Southwell’s older sister Sharon Underhill, who said when she rides on her sister’s horse Bertie past the churchyard where the gifted horsewoman, artist and poet was laid to rest, she tells her she is “doing her best.”

She said: “Many years ago I promised her that if she died before the horses I would look after them.

“I have thrown myself into the physical work and it has helped me not to think so hard about the dreadful heinous way she died.”

She told the jury: “No one on God’s earth had a bad word to say about Fiona.

“She was kind, honest, humorous and quirky and my only sister.”

She also read a statement from her brother Samuel who Miss Southwell she “would never hurt a fly”, adding: “There are no words to describe the unfairness of this tragedy.”

The court heard Miss Southwell, 60, was about to start a new chapter in her life, move down south with friends who were buying a property with equestrian facilities and - unbeknown to her - an artists studio of her own.

Outside the court, her brother and sister thanked family and friends for the support and Humberside Police for their work.

Mr Southwell said: “We would like anyone who knew Fiona to rember her with her horses.”