Edenbridge murder trial: Defendant found guilty of murdering his girlfriend by a jury
Published: 14:39, 25 October 2024
Updated: 15:27, 29 October 2024
A takeaway worker has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend after he “punched, kicked and stamped” on her.
Sonia Parker, 52, died on the floor of her home in Edenbridge earlier this year after the attack by her partner Huseyin Kalyoncu.
The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter accepting his actions caused her death but denied one of murder before the two-week trial at Maidstone Crown Court.
Today (October 25), he was found guilty on one count of murder by the jury.
Last week, the court heard how Ms Parker, a mother-of-two, died as a result of blunt force trauma injuries to her head and torso.
Prosecutor Eloise Marshall KC explained a pathology report showed the victim had 69 external injuries, most of which pre-dated her death, and her body had been “punched, kicked and stamped on”.
On the morning of May 5, the ambulance service was called by Kalyoncu, who had come to the country from Cyprus five years ago, but despite paramedics’ efforts, Ms Parker died at the scene.
The panicked 999 call by the Turkish Cypriot was played to the court where he told operators: “We were fighting and she went down.
He told them: “I had a fight with my girlfriend, then I hit her a little, then she fell onto the floor and I need an ambulance.”
The court heard how Kalyoncu rang his friend Tayfun Deveci, asking for help, and his mother telling her Ms Parker “would not wake up” before calling the ambulance service.
Giving evidence last week, student paramedic Nicola Toms, who was first on the scene, explained to the jury that Kalyoncu grabbed her arm and told her in a “panicked” manner to “help her, help her.”
The emergency services worker was asked by defence counsel Christopher Martin how Kalyoncu was acting while she administered CPR.
She said: “On multiple occasions the male came back into the property in the hallway and crouched in the corner, sweating and crying.”
Police officers who attended the maisonette, in Styles Close, Four Elms, Edenbridge, also gave evidence at the end of last week.
When PC Goodman arrived he said he asked the defendant what had happened, and was told he was “fighting” and “punching” Ms Parker.
The officer then arrested Kalyoncu on suspicion of assault, with the defendant immediately saying: “I know it is not good.”
This week, the court then heard from Detective Constable Charlene Brent about the investigation into the death of Ms Parker, who worked as a cleaner and takeaway driver where she met Kalyoncu.
She told the jury, how while the pair were in a relationship, bank transfers and payments suggested Ms Parker forked out thousands of pounds on her partner including buying more than £1,000 worth of clothes from Sports Direct and JD Sports.
Messages read by Ms Marshall showed how the victim would buy weed for Kalyoncu and he would regularly bombard her with abusive messages, often telling her to “f*** off” and “shut up” and that she was “stupid”.
While messages from the morning of May 5, when Ms Parker died, were read to the court Kalyoncu was in tears and needed a short break.
However, Lucy Sweetland, defending, read messages to the court from the defendant which said he would pay Ms Parker back and told her to stop sending him money and he did not want her help.
Bank transfers also showed he had transferred her money meaning it was not obvious who was paying for what, Ms Sweetland added.
On Tuesday, footage from body-worn cameras from police officers was played in the court which showed Kalyoncu crying in his cell when he was told Ms Parker had died and saying: “How I do this?”
The jury retired on Wednesday afternoon before arriving today with their guilty verdict.
Speaking after the trial, Detective Superintendent Kathleen Way said: “Kalyoncu subjected Ms Parker to a sustained campaign of violence.
“He abused the woman he was meant to love and protect. He physically punished her behind closed doors for run-of-the-mill actions others take for granted, such as using social media or talking to friends.
“The jury was left with no other choice but to find him responsible for Ms Parker’s untimely death.
“I hope the conviction provides her family and friends with some comfort that her killer will see a significant custodial sentence as a consequence for his abhorrent behaviour.”
Kalyoncu will be sentenced on December 11.
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Sean McPolin