MAN JAILED FOR LIFE, WITH A MINIMUM TERM OF 17 YEARS FOR THE MURDER OF SAMANTHA MURPHY
A 31-year-old man received a life sentence with a minimum term of 17 years after altering his plea during his trial and confessing to the murder of Samantha Murphy in Portsmouth last year.Charlie James Jeans, of Margate Road in Southsea, appeared before Portsmouth Crown Court today (Wednesday 17 June), having previously pleaded guilty at the same court on Monday amid the trial.
Police responded at 7:37 am on Thursday, 5 June 2025, following reports that the body of 32-year-old Samantha was found at her residence on Wadham Road, Portsmouth.
An investigation by the Major Crime team uncovered CCTV footage showing Samantha and her partner, Jeans, visiting a pub until approximately 11:30 pm on Wednesday, 4 June.
Further evidence from Wadham Road’s doorbell camera captured the couple walking toward Samantha’s home shortly after, with a notification from Samantha’s phone indicating her doorbell camera was activated around 11:45 pm.
A neighbour reported hearing a loud voice shout ‘I’m going to kill you’ and a woman screaming shortly afterward.
At about 12:20 am on Thursday, 5 June, Jeans sent a message to his mother stating, ‘I’m going to prison for a very long time I love you’.
He was later seen on the doorbell camera leaving the residence at 1:40 am, after which he went into hiding for four days before being located and arrested.
Initially, Jeans maintained a not guilty plea to the murder charge and faced trial last week; however, on Monday, 15 June, he changed his plea to guilty.
He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with a minimum prison term of 17 years.
