A man made a chilling 999 call to confess to murder after ‘brutally’ stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death in a frenzied knife attack.
In disturbing audio, Christopher Hemming, of Other Road in Redditch, Worcestershire, calmly discloses the killing Cheryl McKenna, 44, on the morning of November 11, 2024.
The 47-year-old told the person on the line ‘I stabbed her to death in the bed’.
He is then asked by the operator where the weapon is, to which the murderer responds ‘it’s in the bedroom still, it broke’.
Asked for an explanation, Hemming, who admits to carrying out the attack ‘five minutes ago’, says in a monotone voice: ‘She’s been lying and cheating and f****** other men.’
He then adds: ‘I confronted her. She tried to deny it. I’d already seen the evidence.’
Despite the call, Hemming would later plead not guilty to murdering Ms McKenna, leading to a trial at Worcester Crown Court.
But then halfway through the proceedings he changed his plea to guilty, and on Monday, July 1, Hemming was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years.
The court had been told that Hemming and Ms McKenna had separated at the start of 2024, but still shared a home.
Video footage shows as officers arrest Hemming while he is still on the phone after sirens can be heard in the background of the recorded audio call
He holds up his hands with both covered in what appears to be Ms McKenna’s blood
Cheryl McKenna (pictured), 44, was murdered on the morning of November 11, 2024 despite the efforts of emergency services to save her
However, Hemming then brutally attacked his ex when he discovered she was in a new relationship.
Following the attack Hemming initially called a friend of Ms McKenna’s using her phone to say ‘I wish the camera worked on this phone so I could show you what I’ve done’.
The friend then alerted police saying the call was ‘strange’ and ‘really sinister’.
Video footage shows as officers arrest Hemming while he is still on the phone after sirens can be heard in the background of the recorded audio call.
He holds up both hands with both covered in what appears to be Ms McKenna’s blood.
West Mercia Police say emergency services ‘rushed to the address where efforts were made to save Cheryl’s life, but sadly her injuries were so severe that she was pronounced dead at the scene’.
Hemming was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder with a minimum term of 15 years and 117 days in prison.
In an earlier statement, Ms McKenna’s family said: ‘Cheryl was a huge and integral part of our family and will be missed terribly as a mother, daughter, sister and aunt.’
Christopher Hemming (pictured) was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder with a minimum term of 15 years and 117 days in prison
An investigating officer later said: ‘I want to pay tribute to Cheryl’s family who lost a mother, daughter, sister and aunt at the hands of someone who was once supposed to love and protect her’. Pictured: Cheryl McKenna
West Mercia Police said emergency services ‘rushed to the address where efforts were made to save Cheryl’s life’. Pictured: Hemming looks down at his phone with blood on his hands moments before his arrest
Hemming was described by an investigating officer as an ‘incredibly dangerous and manipulative individual’
Commenting on the case, Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Lougher said: ‘We welcome today’s sentence as Hemming is an incredibly dangerous and manipulative individual, who has shown no remorse for his unforgivable actions.
‘It is clear to us that the attack on Cheryl intended to kill her after he realised their relationship had ended, and he couldn’t bear to see her happy with someone else. It was simply a case of if I can’t have her, no one can.
‘What Hemming did that day was a purely evil crime, and despite admitting to the killing Cheryl when he called police, he then chose to enter a not guilty plea at court.’
DCI Lougher added: ‘I want to pay tribute to Cheryl’s family who lost a mother, daughter, sister and aunt at the hands of someone who was once supposed to love and protect her. The loss they have felt, and will continue to feel, is unimaginable and I hope that today’s sentencing will allow them for some closure moving forward.’
