Man brutally murdered partner before bathing her body, packing his bags, and booking into a hotel with another woman
Jonathan Campbell left his partner dying on the sofa in their house, bought wine from a local shop, and spent the evening drinking and smoking cannabis with a female friend
16:12, 17 MAY 2021
Jonathan Campbell murdered his partner of five years Helen Bannister before trying to wash the blood away in the bath, and then going to meet another woman (Image: South Wales Police)
A man subjected his partner to a brutal assault at the home they shared then packed his bags and left the property for a hotel, a court has heard.
Murdered grandmother, 48, was left looking like the Elephant Man after being beaten to death by her boyfriend, 37, who accused her of having an affair
Helen Bannister, 48, died in hospital six days after being attacked by her boyfriend Jonathan Campbell, 37, at their shared home in Mayhill, Swansea
Daughter told court that she believed her mother would die at his hands
Family are traumatised of final images of her looking like the Elephant Man
Campbell sentenced to life in prison, and will serve a minimum of 18 years
Ms Bannister did not regain consciousness and died in hospital six days later. Injuries recorded at the hospital in addition to the devastating brain injuries included a nasal fracture and fractured eye socket, two black eyes, multiple rib fractures and a collapsed lung.
Helen Bannister. Picture: South Wales Police Campbell will have to serve a minimum tariff of 18 years in jail. After the defendant’s sentencing, Abul Hussain, a senior crown prosecutor in CPS Cymru-Wales, said: “Everyone has the right to feel safe in their own home and there’s no excuse for domestic violence. “The strong case prepared and presented by the CPS resulted in a guilty plea to murder.
BBC News
By Rhys Williams
image captionMother-of-two Helen Bannister loved music and was full of life
A man has been jailed for life for battering his partner to death in a ferocious and merciless attack.
Jonathan Campbell, 37, subjected mum Helen Bannister to years of terror before beating her at their home in Swansea on 1 December last year.
The 48-year-old mother-of-two died of brain injuries five days later.
Campbell, of Mayhill, pleaded guilty to murder at Swansea Crown Court having claimed he had snapped after accusing Ms Bannister of cheating on him.
The couple had been in a relationship for five years and the court heard Campbell had a history of violence again women having faced three previous abuse charges, including a case of battery involving Ms Bannister in 2017.
Killer bathed dying partner to wash away blood before checking into Welsh Premier Inn with woman
Murderer Jonathan Campbell cruelly left his partner to die on a sofa after beating her unconscious before he went drinking and smoking cannabis with another woman
Updated
Jonathan Campbell (Image: South Wales Police)
A man who brutally assaulted his partner, bathed her and left her dying at their home, casually packed a bag to check into a Premier Inn with another woman.
Jonathan Campbell beat his partner, Helen Bannister, into a state of unconsciousness before stripping her down and putting her in a bath to wash away the blood rather than immediately calling 999.