Man jailed over body in bath murder
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A "violent bully" was jailed for life today for killing his girlfriend, who was found dead in the bath.
David Paul Harper, 27, admitted murdering mother-of-three Stacey Quigley and was ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years in prison.
Harper, of Glenhurst Road, Burnage, Greater Manchester, phoned the emergency services on the morning of June 1 and said that Ms Quigley was dead.
Officers found the 24-year-old dead in the bath. She was clothed and had a blanket placed over her.
A post mortem examination found the cause of death to be drowning, Manchester Crown Court heard.
But she had also been strangled and had over 80 injuries to her face and neck, the court heard.
Ms Quigley leaves behind two boys, aged five and three, and a six-month-old girl, police said.
Senior Investigating Officer Andy Tattersall, said Ms Quigley was a much loved mother, daughter and sister "who had her whole life ahead of her".
He said: "She will not get to watch her children grow up and they will now have to do so without their mother.
"In stark contrast Harper is a violent bully and it would appear that hurting women, especially those he is supposed to care about, is second nature to him.
"Stacey's murder is a tragic example of the potential consequences of domestic abuse.
"Many people suffer time and again before reporting matters to police and I would urge anyone who is a victim to call police.