GATESHEAD MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR BRUTAL MURDER OF LAURA ROBSON
Ben Hughes, aged 39, was found guilty of brutally killing Laura Robson at his residence in Gateshead.The assault involved multiple stab and slash wounds, with at least 27 inflicted, including 13 to her neck, one of which punctured her jugular vein and led to her death.
Throughout the attack, Laura appealed for assistance, crying out, "Somebody help, I'm going to die, I'm going to bleed to death," while Hughes responded coldly, "You are going to die anyway, you're going to bleed out, no one is coming to help you, no one knows you're here." Following the murder, Hughes concealed the weapon and washed away the blood from his body.
When law enforcement arrived, he appeared calm but was sweating and confessed, "Yous have caught me." At the sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court, Hughes received a life sentence with a minimum term of at least 17 and a half years before parole could be considered.
Judge Paul Sloan KC described the incident as "sustained and particularly brutal involving gratuitous violence," noting it was "a terrifying ordeal for Miss Robson" and caused her extreme physical and mental suffering.
Hughes has a history of 64 previous convictions, including multiple assaults on women.
During the proceedings, he showed no remorse, gesturing obscene signs and cursing at the judge, exhibiting a lack of remorse for his conduct.
