JOE ATKINSON'S HORRIFIC MURDER IN LEEDS: FAMILY'S PAIN AND BRUTAL KNIFE ATTACK

Joe Atkinson, a 25-year-old resident of Leeds, was found guilty of the heinous murder of his former girlfriend, Poppy Devey Waterhouse. The tragic incident unfolded on a cold December night within the confines of the couple’s shared flat in Leeds, where Atkinson launched a savage assault using a kitchen knife. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing scene, with forensic evidence indicating that Miss Waterhouse, a talented mathematician, sustained over 100 injuries during her desperate attempt to defend herself against the relentless attack.

According to the prosecution, after the assault, Atkinson attempted to clean the scene and alter the evidence, dismissing any claims of self-defense he might have made. The evidence painted a picture of brutality, with approximately 70 stab wounds inflicted upon Miss Waterhouse. Despite her efforts to fight back, she was ultimately overwhelmed and collapsed in the hallway of their Leeds flat. The court heard that she was trying to protect herself during the attack, which was carried out after Atkinson returned unexpectedly from a Christmas night out with colleagues, despite being away earlier that evening.

Family members of the victim, including her mother Julie Devey and her father Rupert Waterhouse, provided emotional testimonies. Julie described the scene as “horrific,” recounting how she kept stroking her hands across the floorboards where her daughter had been left screaming and dying. Rupert expressed his profound grief, saying, “How can a picture of my daughter, smiling at me with her brown eyes, hurt me so deeply? This is my life sentence. Ours is a family of four minus one.”

The court was informed that Joe Atkinson and Poppy Waterhouse first met at Nottingham University, where they had been in a relationship for three years before separating in late 2018. The tragic events occurred after Atkinson returned to their Leeds flat, despite having been out earlier that evening. The forensic evidence indicated that he inflicted around 70 knife injuries, and the victim’s attempts to fight him off were evident before she collapsed in the hallway.

Atkinson admitted to the murder during the trial and was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. The judge set a minimum term of 15 years and 310 days, emphasizing that he would serve a significant period before being eligible for parole. The sentencing highlighted the brutality of the attack and the betrayal felt by the victim’s family, underscoring the tragic consequences of a relationship torn apart by violence and emotional turmoil.