JEALOUS STALKER GUILTY OF MURDERING CO-WORKER IN TAUNTON
Heather Jordan's corpse was discovered in Lyngford Park, Taunton, by dog walkers on the 18th of February.Martin Corns, aged 52, denied the charge of murdering her, claiming it was not his intent and that she had refused his romantic advances.
He also alleged that he had been stealing petrol at the time of her death.
Earlier at Exeter Crown Court, Corns was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years.
Judge Brian Forster remarked that Corns had approached Ms.
Jordan in the park with the aim of killing her.
He cited the judge, stating, “You strangled the woman you called ‘my beautiful princess’ in letters.” The judge also noted that Corns attempted to stage the scene as a robbery, partly to prevent Ms.
Jordan from reporting his harassment.
The court learned that Corns had developed an obsession with Ms.
Jordan after meeting at Boots, where both worked as cleaners.
Their relationship, described by Ms.
Jordan as a “committed friendship,” was non-sexual.
The prosecution presented evidence that Corns killed her after she expressed a desire to cease their meetings.
The jury was told that Corns sent over 2,000 texts and calls to Ms.
Jordan, surveilled her home, followed her at work, and grew increasingly possessive and jealous.
She was murdered while walking from her residence to her weekend cleaning job at Priorswood Co-op around 5:15 a.m.
Investigators found a torn love letter scattered among her remains, and the scene was staged to resemble a robbery.
Her body was discovered in a park shelter by dog walkers.
Jennifer Rigby, Ms.
Jordan's mother, testified that she was preparing to file a harassment complaint against Corns with Ms.
Jordan's employers.
She also shared her discomfort over receiving a dozen red roses from him on Valentine’s Day, just two days prior.
The court was told that Corns believed Ms.
Jordan was seeing a supervisor at Boots and refused to believe her denials.
Detective Inspector Mike Buck, in charge of the investigation, expressed gratitude towards Ms.
Jordan's family and friends for their courage and dignity during court proceedings.
He also highlighted the contribution of CCTV footage obtained from local businesses and private residents.
Before the trial, Mrs.
Rigby described her daughter as kind-hearted, helpful, and occasionally suffering from depression.
She reminisced about her daughter’s caring nature, recalling her saying, "She used to say, 'When you're old, I'll look after you.' She won't now." which she can no longer fulfil.
