Bury man gets life for murder

Date published: 07 September 2010

A man has been jailed for life for the murder of Joanne Kitchen - a mother and grandmother from Bury.

Gary Mark Higgs, 44,  of Dumers Lane, Radcliffe, admitted murder at Manchester Crown Court Crown Square and has been ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years in prison.

Joanne, 41, was found at a house on Dumers Lane, Radcliffe, at 4.40pm on Tuesday 13 April 2010.

A post-mortem revealed that the cause of Joanne's death was two stab wounds and strangulation.

Joanne was part of a large, loving family and leaves behind two daughters, two grandchildren and many other family members and friends.

Chief Superintendent Jon Rush, divisional commander of GMP's Bury division, said: "While there was no history of domestic violence between the pair, Joanne's murder sadly demonstrates the tragic consequences of violence in the home and my thoughts are with her family and friends.

"Domestic abuse is not acceptable under any circumstances and GMP can now act on information or evidence from a victim's family, friends or neighbours.

"We also have specialist domestic abuse investigators in place to provide a first response to victims and support them throughout the criminal justice process and work closely with partners such as local authorities and the Women's Domestic Abuse Helpline to continually improve the support services offered to victims."

Senior Investigating Officer, Vincent Chadwick, said: "If we are to believe Higgs' account of what happened, he erupted with rage following a minor argument.

"Instead of talking things through he took out a kitchen knife and attacked Joanne from behind. She quite simply never stood a chance.

"Joanne was a popular woman and her murder has deeply affected all of her family and many friends."

Joanne first came into contact with Higgs through Facebook in 2009.

He was living in Telford and the two would meet up. In October 2009 he moved to Bury and in December 2009 Joanne rented a house on Dumers Lane, Radcliffe and the pair moved in.

Joanne finished work shortly before 10pm on Monday 12 April 2010 and was driven home by one of her daughters.

Numerous attempts were made to contact Joanne the following morning.

After it was discovered she had not turned up for work Joanne's daughters made further attempts to contact her. The landlord was called and found Joanne dead in an upstairs bedroom.

Higgs had stabbed Joanne once in the chest, once in the back and had strangled her with the cord from an alarm clock.

Higgs went on the run and visited his mother. On learning police had been looking for him he told her he was going and that `it might be a while before I see you again'.

He took some alcohol and tablets and was found on wasteland a short time later. He was discharged on Thursday 15 April 2010 and questioned over Joanne's murder.

Higgs admitted stabbing Joanne following a minor argument and told police that after he had stabbed her for a second time she told him: "You've killed me."