Carer who stabbed disabled partner to death and kept her body in a ‘shrine’ for two weeks is jailed after it was revealed he killed before
Steven Stocks met Laraine Rayner within months of being released from prison for 'beating up' an ex girlfriend
A CARER who stabbed his disabled partner to death and left her body under a makeshift 'shrine' while he went about his ordinary life was jailed for at least 20 years today.
Steven Stocks, 44, plunged a seven-inch blade into Laraine Rayner's neck and face during a row at her home.
After the jury found him guilty of murdering Laraine it was revealed in court Stocks had been convicted of manslaughter in 1993.
Jurors also heard that Stocks, originally from Peterborough, had 'beaten up' an ex girlfriend in 2010 and was jailed for 12 months.
He met Ms Rayner within months of being released from prison.
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Stocks left Laraine’s body under a 'shrine' for more than two weeks while 'going about his ordinary life', jurors heard.
When police forced entry to the house 18 days later Stocks guzzled prescription drugs in an attempt to kill himself.
Officers found a teddy bear - won by the couple at a clairvoyance meeting - propped up on a sofa next to Stocks' suicide note, which read: “Sorry about the mess in your flat.
“If you would see the mess you'd kill me.”
Mum-of-three Ms Rayner, 52, was housebound and suffered from mental health problems, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Stocks claimed he acted in self-defence after she attacked him because he smashed her 'favourite mirror' during an argument at her home in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire on April 6.
But a jury convicted him of murder and he was jailed for life today, with a minimum term of 20 years.
No details of Stocks' previous killing were given to the court but the judge said it occurred in 'very different circumstances'.
Giving evidence Stocks had claimed he 'panicked' when he realised his partner was dead and said: “I went out for a walk, basically I legged it back to my place.”
Stocks recalled the moments when he returned to her house around an hour later.
He said: “Well I knew that she was dead.
“I sat in the room with her to start off with, erm, I checked her pulse but I couldn't find her pulse.”
Stocks said he removed the clothes on her upper body because ‘because she had OCD and she was very clean, she liked to be all spotless and I didn't want her to be found in her clothes all covered in blood’.
Jurors heard he dragged her corpse to the bedroom and covered her with a quilt 'to keep her warm'.
He then put cards, photographs, and a rose on the 'shrine' and placed a teddy bear with a suicide note on a sofa in the snug room.
Stocks added: “The teddy bear is what we won when we went to a clairvoyance meeting one evening.”
He said he attempted suicide moments before police forced entry to the house on 24 April: "Because I wanted to join Laraine."
Stocks, of Wisbech, Cambs, denied but was convicted of murder.
He had admitted preventing a lawful burial.
Detective Inspector Lucy Thomson said: “This was a tragic case and our thoughts go out to Laraine’s family at this difficult time. Although what has happened in court today will not bring her back, I hope that it will bring some closure for them.”
In a statement her family said: “We would like to thank the jury for returning the right verdict.
“Although today’s verdict brings a welcome relief, it goes without saying that this will not bring back Laraine, a much loved sister, mother, daughter and aunt.
“Today brings the conclusion which now allows us to begin the process of rebuilding our family and being stronger together.”
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