A teenager has pleaded guilty to the murder and rape of an 18-year-old woman who took him to her home because he was too drunk to go home.
Joseph Trevor, 19, today pleaded guilty to the murder and rape of Megan Newton in Stoke-on-Trent in April last year.
Megan died after she was stabbed eight times in the back in her own home. The killer, who had previously been accused of raping another girl but never prosecuted, strangled Megan until she was unconscious and stabbed her to death, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
Trevor had earlier been taken to a police station after he was found with a bag of white powder, which turned out to be ketamine, during a night out.
Adrian Keeling QC, prosecuting, told Stafford Crown Court: “He raped and murdered her in the early hours of April 20. He did so at her flat.
“She invited him back as an act of kindness. He got so drunk on drink and drugs and could not go home to his parents.
“He raped her and stabbed her in the back eight times.”
The prosecutor continued: “He was seen to hide a bag of white powder down his trousers and the police were called.
“He was taken to the police station so officers could undertake a proper search.
“The white powder, ketamine, was found. Police seized the bag and told him he would have to go back at a later stage. They let him out of police custody.
“CCTV shows he went to the town centre to a taxi rank at 3.20am.
“Megan had also gone out that night. She had finished her shift at a fish and chip shop in Trent Vale at 10.20pm, went home and got changed before going out at 11pm.”
And he stated: “There was no evidence the deceased was sexually attracted to him that night or at all.
“It’s likely the sex alone was a trigger for her murder. It seems clear the defendant strangled her with his hands.
“She was unconscious but still probably alive.
“That strangulation would have taken 15 to 30 seconds of neck pressure.
“As the deceased lay there, the defendant got off the bed, armed himself with a knife and stabbed her nine times in the neck region and her back.
“On CCTV, his appearance leaving the flat was remarkably composed.”
Mr Keeling said the defendant later told a psychiatrist he had previously been accused of rape, although he was never prosecuted.
He said the trigger for murder was that Megan said she was sorry for telling people he had raped a girl.
That made him very angry with her. He accepted grabbing her around the throat.
Trevor was later seen walking to a bridge on the A500 with his legs the wrong side of the railings.
Megan was living at a supported housing complex run by charity Arch, which tackles domestic abuse and homelessness.
Her dad, Michael said: “She was so excited about finishing college and talked about going to America to study.
“I am never going to see her grow and blossom into the amazing woman she was going to be. My life has been ripped apart. She was amazing caring, kind, loving,funny young lady.”
Tributes were paid to avid Stoke City fan Megan, who was a keen footballer and coach, following her death.
Samantha Duckers added: “We’ve spent the whole weekend wishing and praying it wasn’t you Meg.
“We are all devastated at your loss and the football community will never be the same without you.
“The girls and staff at Stoke Town are in shock but we will never forget your time with us. Thank you for lighting up our lives, we will miss you Meg.”
The killer initially pleaded not guilty to the charges at a hearing last summer, but today pleaded guilty to murder and two charges of rape.
In a statement after her death, her family said: “Our hearts are broken. Meg was a beautiful young woman who had everything to live for.
“She was in the prime of life, so precious and loving. We adored her.
“She was into sport in a big way. She loved playing football and used to give up her weekends to work as an assistant coach for the under 7s.”
