'Our Beckii did not deserve to die this way' - Parents of Stafford murder victim react to guilty verdict as killer faces life sentence
The family of murdered Stafford mother Rebecca Simkin have described her as an "amazing mum and loving daughter" despite having problems.
Wayne Bond, 44, was found guilty of the murder of the 31-year-old in a unanimous verdict following a 10-day jury trial at Stafford Crown Court on Wednesday (2). She was last seen alive on July 23 last year. Six days later her killer revealed that she was in fact lying dead in his flat at the Eagle House hostel accommodation managed by housing association Midland Heart.
Staffordshire Police has also released a photograph of Bond, who exercised his right not to give evidence in his defence during the trial.
Paying a moving tribute Miss Simkin's mother and step-father Julie and Michael Riglar said: “Beckii was an amazing mum and loving daughter. She had her faults, but she never deserved to die this way.
“We would like to thank Staffordshire Police for their hard work on the investigation into Beckii’s murder, with special thanks to the family liaison officers, and investigators conducting the investigation.”
Closed Circuit cameras showed Bond and Rebecca, of Stafford, together in Newport Road, at approximately 7.40pm on July 23 last year.
She can be clearly seen on the footage without any injuries. Footage shows them entering Bond’s flat at about 9.15pm.
Miss Simkin did not live at Eagle House and she was just visiting the building where she knew some of the residents. She had been signed in, but never signed out and was not seen on any CCTV after that time. Several residents of the flats told officers they heard a woman screaming late on July 25 and in the early hours of July 26.
Bond, who had left his flat at some point during the period, returned at 10am on the following Monday when he told a member of staff that a woman who had been staying in his room had passed away.
He told the office staff they had a squabble and claimed that he could not remember what happened and that "everything was a blur". When the staff let themselves into his room they found her decomposing body wrapped in a blanket underneath an upturned sofa and she was pronounced dead by paramedics a short time later.
As a result Bond was arrested on suspicion of murder.
In a statement, Det Insp Gina Pope, of the Staffordshire Police Major Investigations Department, said: “Our thoughts remain with Beckii’s family and friends.
“Beckii was tragically subjected to a violent assault which sadly led to her death. Bond showed absolute cowardice in failing to report Beckii’s death and leaving her in his flat for a number of days and for failing to give evidence during the trial.
“I’d like to thank Beckii’s family, friends and the staff and residents of Eagle House, where she died, who have supported the investigation.”
Following the verdict trial Judge Kristina Montgomery KC warned Bond, who has links to Stone, to expect a minimum term of life imprisonment when he is sentenced on Friday.(4)
