Huddersfield, West Yorkshire – A domestic abuser has received a whole life order for the brutal murders of his ex-partner and her new boyfriend in a horrific knife attack. Marcus Osborne’s actions were described as “ferocious and merciless” by prosecutors as he violently took the lives of Katie Higton, 27, and Steven Harnett, 25. The attack resulted in Ms. Higton sustaining 99 injuries and Mr. Harnett enduring 24 wounds, including mutilated genitals.
The killings took place in the early hours of May 15 last year, as Osborne laid in wait for Ms. Higton in their former shared home in Huddersfield. After assaulting Ms. Higton, he then manipulated her phone to lure Mr. Harnett to the residence. Tragically, four children were present in the house during these horrific events.
Throughout the court proceedings, it was revealed that Ms. Higton had been in a coercive and physically abusive relationship with Osborne for several years. The prosecution detailed Osborne’s history of violence towards not only Ms. Higton but also previous partners. In the days leading up to the murders, Ms. Higton reported to authorities Osborne’s threats of harm if she were to move on from the relationship.
The judge presiding over the case, Mrs. Justice Lambert, condemned Osborne’s actions as “merciless and sustained” towards Ms. Higton, who was left entirely defenseless during the attack. She highlighted the brutal nature of the crimes and the sexual jealousy that drove Osborne to commit such heinous acts.
In a chilling account, the court heard of Osborne’s behavior after the murders, where he was described as taunting and proud of his actions. The judge imposed a 10-year concurrent sentence for the rape and false imprisonment of another woman who was held captive in the house during the ordeal.
Despite the guilty plea from Osborne, the judge emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating that no mitigating factors could justify his actions. As Osborne was led away from the courtroom, a family member expressed disdain for him, while the judge concluded that his actions were primarily motivated by sexual jealousy and a need to degrade his victims.