Woman called police four days after murdering friend

A woman murdered her friend at his Peterborough home and then left his body for four days before calling police to confess.

Anne-Marie Burrowes, 52, killed Paul Knowles, 56, on 26 October last year by assaulting him to his face and then shoving a sock down his throat.

She called police on 30 October to say she had killed a man but refused to say who or where.

Finally, on 19 November, she called police again to confess that she couldn’t live with the guilt. In this call she named Mr Knowles and told officers what she had done to him and where they would find his body.

Burrowes claimed self-defence but last Thursday at Cambridge Crown Court she was found guilty of murder. 

She was sentenced today (23 July) at Cambridge Crown Court to life in prison with a minimum term of 17 years.

Detective Inspector Richard Stott, from the Beds, Cambs and Herts Major Crime Unit, said: “This is a horrific and tragic case where a man has lost his life after being violently assaulted and having a sock forced into his throat.

“Burrowes’ actions showed there was no other intention than to kill him.

“Our thoughts remain with Paul’s son, family and friends at this difficult time, and we hope this conviction provides some sense of justice for them.

“I would like to add my thanks to the police major crime investigation team, Crown Prosecution Service and prosecution counsel for their hard work and a great collaborative effort.”

The court had heard how Burrowes and Mr Knowles would regularly meet at the latter’s flat in Farrier’s Court, Woodston, to drink alcohol, but on 26 October, things turned violent and she killed Knowles.

Burrowes left, taking Mr Knowles’ bank card with her and used it at a shop.

After first calling police, she claimed to be having recurring nightmares and gave no other details.

However, following her second call, officers found his body and discovered he had significant injuries to his face, eyes and neck. A sock had been lodged in the back of his throat, blocking his airway.

Burrowes was tracked down the following day at a property in Mountbatten Way, Ravensthorpe.

On arrest she said: “One of them ones where you wish you hadn’t turned up at all, you know, and turn the clocks back sort of thing.”

In interview she gave a prepared statement, which explained she and Mr Knowles had been alcoholics. She claimed she had gone to his flat where he had become abusive and had prevented her from leaving.

She claimed when she had tried to leave, he had come at her with a bottle, and she had acted in self-defence, hitting him a couple of times before fleeing.

She said she didn’t remember what had happened after that and it had all become a blur but claimed he had been alive when she left.

A forensic post-mortem examination revealed Mr Knowles had died from airway obstruction from the sock, and facial fractures. 

Mr Knowles’ son, Nathan Naylor, previously paid an emotional tribute to his “hero” father, who was known as Knobby.

He said: “My dad was my hero. He spent 22 years and one day in the Royal Navy.

“He was a loving father, son and brother. Such a pure soul and loved by many. Fair winds and calm seas.”