PURE EVIL Teacher ADMITS murdering cheating boyfriend & burying him in garden after luring him to bedroom for sex
A TEACHER has admitted murdering her boyfriend and burying his body in the garden after luring him to the bedroom for sex.
Fiona Beal, 50, tied Nicholas Billingham, 42, to the bed then murdered him "in cold blood" at their Northampton home.
She then pretended to be her boyfriend in messages sent from his phone in a move that was "as heartless as it was self-serving".
Beal had been taking part in a retrial but today pleaded guilty to murdering Nicholas in a "chilling execution".
The Year 6 teacher claimed he had run off with another woman and received a "sympathetic" response over the apparent break up.
But as Nicholas' body rotted in the back garden, the Old Bailey was told Beal's mental health started to deteriorate.
In March 2022 - four months after the alleged murder - police were called to a holiday cabin she had rented in Cumbria amid concerns for her welfare.
Officers discovered journals where Beal outlined her plans under her alter ego "Tulip 22", which showed a "wholly different side to her personality".
Beal wrote in one entry: "Still my actions haunt me. I sometimes have to catch myself and remember what I did and then remember my cover story - neither seem convincing."
In another, she said: "It was harder than I thought it would be. Hiding a body was bad. Moving a body is much more difficult than it looks on TV."The court was told Beal also claimed she was "controlled and manipulated" by Nicholas as she explained "why she killed him as she did".
Prosecutor Hugh Davies KC said: "They certainly do contain some unambiguously clear declarations of what she had done. These parts were not just her truth, but the truth. What was this?"The short answer is that she had planned to, and had, killed him in cold blood. She had purchased a forged handled utility knife in the days before. She had a chisel and cable ties.
"Promising sex after a bath, she stabbed him in the neck when he was wearing a sleep mask and was probably cabled-tied on their bed."
Jurors heard police discovered Nicholas had not been seen or spoken to since November 1, 2021.
At the time, Beal had claimed she was isolating for Covid to buy herself at least ten days without anyone visiting, it was said.
She used the break to buy "multiple items" to help her dispose of Nicholas' body.
The court heard that after killing the builder, Beal wrapped his body up and dragged him down the stairs despite his 14st frame.
She then buried him in the garden in a "de facto coffin" made of breeze blocks, timber and sheets.
The body was partly decomposed, indeed mummified and on its back. The head was wrapped in black plastic, a knotted hose pipe, cable and plastic ties were in the same area.
Beal also added a plant pot for "decorative effect", jurors heard.
Mr Davies said: "This was a major job, requiring her to plan what was needed, order it, collect it, burn other incriminating material in an incinerator in the garden and carry on throughout as if nothing remarkable was occurring.
"The body was partly decomposed, indeed mummified and on its back. The head was wrapped in black plastic, a knotted hose pipe, cable and plastic ties were in the same area."
Beal was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing on May 29.Speaking after today’s hearing, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Adam Pendlebury said: “We are pleased Fiona Beal has now taken the decision to admit she did indeed murder Nick Billingham and hope that it brings the start of some closure to his family who have faced a torrid time for more than two years, including sitting through the original trial in Northampton in 2023.
“Today’s news will have come as a great relief as they await her sentencing next month.”
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