Man jailed for life over double murder outside Matalan store in Cardiff

A man who murdered his ex-girlfriend and her new partner outside the shop where they worked has been jailed for life.

Andrew Saunders, 21, will serve at least 23 years for stabbing Matalan workers Zoe Morgan and Lee Simmons to death in Cardiff city centre.

The couple were ambushed as they arrived at the Matalan store in September last year.

The court heard Miss Morgan and Saunders were in a relationship between June 2014 and July 2015.

In 2016 she met Mr Simmons while they were both working at Matalan and in July Miss Morgan told Saunders their relationship was not working.

Saunders accused her of cheating and said: "I will kill whoever it is."

Saunders bought knives and latex gloves in the days leading up to the double murder and used Google to search for topics including "the easiest way to kill a person" and "how long do murderers serve in prison".

His final web searches were "how to slice a neck" and "how to smoke a cigar".

Saunders used two knives to murder Mr Simmons and Miss Morgan, inflicting eight stab wounds on each of the victims.

Mrs Justice Nicola Davies said: "In the early hours of 28 September you searched YouTube for 'motivation for killing' and 'motivation for revenge'.

"Before you left home you wrote letters... all of which demonstrate an intention to take your own life."

In one of the letters Saunders wrote: "I have struggled with life for a while now and I could not deal with it any longer, sorry."

He also wrote: "I think Isis is the good guys most of the time and that is just messed up. No-one will forget me."

Saunders left his family home at 4.41am on 28 September 2016 and at 5.30am was seen near phone boxes near Matalan. Fifteen minutes later he headed towards the store.

Miss Morgan was waiting outside the shop with Mr Simmons, who was not working that day but had accompanied her to work.

Mrs Justice Davies said: "From out of nowhere you appeared and began the savage attack on Lee Simmons."

Saunders took an eight-inch knife from his rucksack and stabbed Mr Simmons with it before using the larger 10-inch knife when the smaller one appeared to break.

When Miss Morgan tried to pull him off Mr Simmons, Saunders told her to get off and warned her: "I'm coming for you next."

He chased his ex-girlfriend and attacked her with a second knife, then left the scene.

Mrs Justice Davies jailed Saunders, of no fixed address, for life and ordered him to serve a minimum of 23 years and four months in prison.

The judge told the former hotel receptionist: "In a sustained and brutal attack you ended these lives.

"You took away the futures of Lee Simmons and Zoe Morgan.

"You robbed the families of Lee Simmons and Zoe Morgan of a much loved son and a much loved daughter.

"The effect on each family has been devastating."

Saunders admitted both murders at a hearing in December 2016.