By James Simons And Lucy Caulkett-
A deadly domestic abuser has been given a whole life order for murdering his ex-partner and her new boyfriend in a “ferocious and merciless” knife attack.
Marcus Osborne(pictured) is one of a very few in the history of British Criminal Justice system to be given a whole life tariff for the callous murder of Katie Higton and Steven Harnett at their home in Dalton, Huddersfield, in May last year.
The murderer forced his way into the home he formerly shared with Ms Higton in Huddersfield,and attacked her as she returned from a date at a cinema.
The tragic young woman is said to have put up a “courageous struggle”, but was overcome by the violent rage of her former partner, suffering 99 knife wounds, including more than 20 to the face.
Osborne pleaded guilty last year to the murders, as well as the false imprisonment and rape of another woman who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Disturbing details emerged in court on Thursday about how Osborne lured both victims to the house separately after they had enjoyed a date at the cinema, attacking both with a knife and telling the third victim “Romeo and Juliet can die together”.
During Thursday’s hearing, the prosecution revealed Osbourne also mutilated Mr Harnett’s genitals after the murder.
A two-day sentencing hearing at the court was told Ms Higton was abused by Osborne during their five-year relationship. She left him in early May after an assault on 28 April.
She later told police the relationship had become “coercive, controlling, and physically abusive” in the last two years and that she had been regularly assaulted, including one incident when he threw a cat at her, the court heard.
In the days before the murders, Ms Higton told West Yorkshire Police Osborne had warned her he would “slit her throat if she said what he had done”, and “if she ever got a boyfriend he would kill them both”.
Three days before the killings Osborne was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence offences and bailed with conditions not to go back to their home, but he spied on her over the following days.
The court heard he found out about the developing relationship between Ms Higton and Mr Harnett by hacking into her Snapchat account.
On the night of the murders he took a taxi to the house on Harpe Inge and launched a brutal attack as soon as Ms Higton came through the door.
He then used Ms Higton’s phone to pretend to be her and lure Mr Harnett, 25, to the house.
Kate Higton(left) and Steve Hornett were murdered by jealous Marcus Osborne
Osborne raped another woman, who he had held captive in the house overnight, at knifepoint.
The court heard four children were in the house during the murders.
Marcus Osborne said: “Romeo and Juliet can f***ing die together now” after the brutal double killing which left Katie Higton, 27, with 99 injuries and Steven Harnett, 25, with 24 wounds.
Leeds Crown Court heard Osborne, 35, lay in wait for Ms Higton and launched a brutal attack on her as soon as she came through the door of the house they once shared in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Osborne then used Ms Higton’s phone to pretend to be her and lure Mr Harnett, 25, to the house.
A family member shouted “I hope you rot in hell” from the public gallery as Osborne was taken away. The judge said the killings were “sexual in nature” and driven by Osborne’s “pathological jealousy”.
Flowers left at the scene in Huddersfield ( Image: PA)
Judge Justice Lambert dismissed the idea of any mitigating factors in this horrifying incident.
She said: ”This is a case of such exceptional seriousness that even a very long minimum term would not be a just punishment. What you did that night was horrific.”
She told Osborne: “They were driven by your sexual jealousy arising from Katie’s decision to start a new relationship with Steven.
I do not accept (the murders) are explained by your entrenched insecurity about being abandoned as a result of a neglected childhood. Everything you did was motivated by sex and your need to sexually humiliate and degrade.”
Osborne also received a 10 year concurrent sentence for the rape and false imprisonment of another woman in the house.
Jealousy
Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC said: “The defendant committed a premeditated and brutal double murder motivated by sexual jealousy, a desire to exercise control over Katie Higton, an unwillingness to accept her decision to leave him and her freedom to form a relationship with another man.”
Detective Superintendent Alan Weekes who led the investigation into Osborne’s offending, said: “It is hard to understand the behaviour of anyone who acted as Osborne did in bringing horror to a family home. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by his dreadful crimes.
“The absolutely brutal offences committed by Marcus Osborne during the morning of May 15 are some of the worst myself and other experienced homicide detectives have investigated in our careers.
“Osborne’s attacks on his victims were savage but also chillingly calculated in their execution. His behaviour can only be described as truly monstrous.
“The lengthy sentence handed down to Osborne today is justice served and will protect the public from this dangerous individual.”
In a statement, Katie’s family described the impact of her loss:
They said: “Katie was a shining, beautiful and deeply caring soul whose presence lit up any room from the moment she entered it.
“She was a much-loved mother, daughter, niece, granddaughter and sister and her loss has left a huge, gaping hole in the lives of her family and friends.
We all continue to suffer from having her so brutally taken from us, and none more so than her four beautiful children. Their anguish has been almost impossible to bear.
They have lost a mum who was absolutely dedicated to them.
“As a family we will all miss her laughter, her fun and jokes and we will never again have the joy of loving messages from her at special times or of spending precious moments with her.
“There is much we could say about the monster who took Katie from us. A man, if he can be called that, whose name does not deserve to even be mentioned within the same breath as hers. His sentencing today will not change the life sentence of loss he has inflicted upon us all. We want to thank all those who have supported us through such a horrific time.
“No family should have to endure what we have suffered, but the kind words have helped as we strive to remember the woman who was our world, and who touched the worlds of so many around her.
“We also wish to thank the investigation team at West Yorkshire Police who have supported our family through this unimaginable time and now ask that our privacy is respected.”