Woman 'killed by violent boyfriend', court hears

A man with a history of violence against women allegedly killed his girlfriend in a "heavy, brutal and sustained" attack, a jury has been told.

Warren Spence is accused of murdering 44-year-old Samantha Varley, whose body was found with bite marks in the basement flat the couple shared in Harehills, Leeds, on 12 February last year.

Mr Spence, 55, denies the charge.

His trial at Leeds Crown Court is expected to last for two weeks.

Opening the prosecution against the defendant on Tuesday, Stephen Wood told the jury Miss Varley had visited Leeds' domestic violence service the week before her body was found.

Mr Wood said the relationship between the two, which had started several months previously, was "characterised by the defendant's controlling behaviour towards Miss Varley and indiscriminate use of violence towards her".

The court heard Miss Varley had been staying at a friend's house the month before she died.

It was said the friend saw messages on Miss Varley's phone from Mr Spence in which he threatened to kill her, "burn her clothes and burn her hair off" if she didn't go back to him.

In a message later sent to the friend Miss Varley said: "Don't text back. He caught me. I got a battering, love."

The courtroom was shown police bodycam footage from New Year's Eve night in 2023, where Miss Varley was seen talking to officers who were apparently looking for Mr Spence.

She was seen telling them: "He's just not a nice man. I'm terrified. I asked to go and be moved away from here but nobody listens. What am I supposed to do?"

She later added: "He just flipped. He's nutted me."

The trial heard Miss Varley's body was found at her flat on Brown Hill Terrace by police after a relative reported her missing.

She had suffered injuries to her head, chest and legs and had bite marks on her forearms and shin.

A mobile phone the prosecution said belonged to Mr Spence was found underneath her body, while a hammer was also recovered from the property.

The jury was told Mr Spence had previous convictions for attacking, threatening and harassing previous partners.

Mr Wood said the defendant "has a clear propensity to use violence in the context of domestic relationships".

Mr Spence was arrested in Scarborough three days after Miss Varley's body was found, having travelled there by bus from Leeds earlier that day.

A friend who had allowed him to stay for several nights the previous week was said to have been told by the defendant that Miss Varley had thrown him out following a "barney".

The court heard that when officers approached him sitting on a wall outside the town's railway station, Mr Spence gave them a false name and age and after being detained refused to answer any questions during a police interview.

He also refused to provide dental impressions which detectives wanted to compare to the marks found on the victim's body.

The jury was told his defence is likely to be that he was not present at the time of Miss Varley's murder.

The trial continues.

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