EXETER MAN GETS LIFE FOR GIRLFRIEND MURDER
Darrell Rose, a 36-year-old resident of Exeter, was given a life sentence after being found guilty of the murder of his partner, Geraldine Mellor, who was 32 years old.The Exeter Crown Court heard that Rose had physically strangled Mellor with his bare hands following her attempt to end their relationship.
Eyewitnesses in the neighborhood reported hearing Mellor shout 'get out, get out' during a confrontation at her home.
The judge described the incident as 'an explosion of temper' that took place on January 10th, and imposed a minimum jail term of 15 years.
Court documentation revealed that Rose was deeply infatuated with Mellor throughout their six-month relationship and that he was hoping to marry and settle down with her.
Conversely, Mellor was portrayed as a 'free spirit' who valued having fun over making commitments.
The altercation was reportedly sparked by an argument over a lighter that Mellor had borrowed during Christmas visits.
Rose stated that Mellor had become enraged and 'flew at him with a crash helmet,' prompting him to defend himself by grabbing her by the throat.
It was also noted that Rose had a history of violent incidents, including previous attempts to strangle a former girlfriend and a nurse at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish.
Although Rose had experienced mental health difficulties stemming from a head injury nearly twenty years earlier, the judge made it clear that these issues did not influence his actions and emphasized the close-range nature of the attack, noting that he watched her struggle and die while she was 'no more than an arm's length away.' The court also condemned Rose's efforts to lie and deflect responsibility onto Mellor, criticizing his apparent lack of remorse and callousness.
