Man sentenced to life for murder and assault in Batley

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder, sexual assault, and mutilation of a 21-year-old woman in Batley, West Yorkshire, after she rejected his romantic advances. Michael Doherty, 38, must serve a minimum of 33 years in custody for killing Courtney Angus in July of last year.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Doherty attacked Ms. Angus in the early hours of July 25 at his home on Norfolk Street, where she had been staying for a few days. The court was told the assault was sexually motivated and occurred after she had clearly communicated she did not want a relationship with him. Prosecutor Craig Hassall said text messages showed Doherty had expressed romantic feelings and threatened to take his own life, to which Ms. Angus responded that she had not led him on and valued their friendship.

A post-mortem examination found Ms. Angus sustained 76 injuries and died from pressure to the neck and blunt force trauma to the head. The court heard she had been subjected to a serious sexual assault and that Doherty had mutilated her body, displaying amputated parts on his mantelpiece. He also took indecent images of her on his phone.

Later on July 26, Doherty went on a theft...