The father of a murdered mother said "brutal, cowardly and vicious crime" against women and girls has to stop after his daughter's partner was jailed for her murder.
Nicole Hurley, a 37-year-old mother of four, was stabbed to death by her controlling and abusive partner in front of her children on October 10, 2021, at their home in Broxwood Way, Primrose Hill.
He then removed all phones from the house in an attempt to stop her children calling the police, before trying to force a friend at knifepoint to drive away with him.
Jason Bell, 42, appeared at the Old Bailey today (October 12) where he was jailed for 22 years for her murder.
Speaking on behalf of Nicole’s family her father, Tom, said her death "deeply saddens us every day".
He added: "This should never have happened, and it didn’t need to happen.
“I had to bury my daughter, and her children had to attend her funeral. This won’t ever make any sense and we will forever wish that things were different for all of us."
He said domestic violence had "no place in a modern, civilised society".
His daughter had been trying to get out of the relationship, and police said she had been isolated and controlled due to Bell's paranoia,
Her father added: "To exert control over another person by taking advantage of their vulnerabilities, and slowly manipulating them behind the false pretence of some twisted idea of love is one of the most despicable, abhorrent behaviours.
"This brutal, cowardly and vicious crime, mostly but not only perpetrated against women and girls, ought to stop.
“We will make sure that Nicole’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain, we must keep strong and carry on for her children, and we will do that every day, albeit with a heavy heart.”
Emergency services were called to Broxwood Way just before midnight on October 10, 2022, after neighbours raised the alarm.
Nicole was found suffering multiple stab wounds and signs of having been beaten. Despite the efforts of paramedics, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jurors heard that having murdered Nicole, Bell packed a bag, including all of the mobile phones at the address, to prevent her children from calling for help.
Once away from the address he discarded the bag containing six phones and a bloody knife in a garden in Victoria Mews, Maida Vale.
Bell then walked to the home of a long-time friend Jeremy Drewitt, where he admitted having stabbed Nicole.
Bell then falsely accused his friend of having an affair with Nicole and proceeded to keep him at the address overnight, sleeping by the door to prevent his friend from leaving.
The following morning Bell, armed with a knife, forced Mr Drewitt to leave the address with him in his vehicle.
Fearing for his life, Mr Drewitt escaped from the car while it was still moving and was treated at hospital for minor injuries.
Bell was arrested later that day and charged the following day with murder, false imprisonment, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified with no insurance.
He was convicted of murder on August 8.
As well as his murder sentence, Bell also received seven year sentences for false imprisonment and dangerous driving, which will be served concurrently.
Det Chief Insp Jim Eastwood, said: “Nicole was murdered by Bell while her four children were at the address – three of them witnessed the frenzied attack on their mother.
“She suffered defence injuries to her forearms indicating that she tried to shield herself from the blows that Bell inflicted with at least two knives.”
DCI Eastwood added: “It is only right that he spends considerable years of his life in a place where he can no longer hurt the innocent.
“Bell’s defence was that he lost control due to Nicole’s behaviour – a calculated attempt to blame her for his horrendous actions that meant the children have lost their mother, her family has lost a loved one and a community has lost a friend.
“Nicole’s death has had a tremendous impact on her children and wider family. Her local community continue to question why they lost Nicole in such a violent manner. My thoughts are very much with them all as they continue to come to terms with their loss.
“Nothing will bring Nicole back, but I hope that today’s conviction brings the family a sense that justice has been served.”
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