Millionaire property developer jailed for three years over death of 26-year-old girlfriend during 'rough sex' session
Millionaire businessman John Broadhurst has been jailed for three years and eight months for the death of his girlfriend following a drink and drug-fuelled sex session.
Broadhurst was previously cleared of murdering Natalie Connolly and causing her grievous bodily harm on the directions of the judge following legal submissions part-way through his trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
Miss Connolly 26, was pronounced dead on the morning of December 18 2016 after Broadhurst called paramedics to their home in Kenrose Mill, Kinver, near Stourbridge.
Broadhurst, a property developer said to have a fortune of around £15 million, had separated from a former partner, who was pregnant with their second child, around three months before Miss Connolly’s death.
The court heard that Miss Connolly, who had suffered a “blow-out” fracture to her left eye, bruising and internal injuries, had told witnesses that she and the defendant had an interest in masochistic sex.
A paramedic told Broadhurst’s trial that the father-of-three appeared hungover and did not seem “unduly upset” after finding his partner’s body at about 9.30am.
Passing sentence on Broadhurst on Monday at Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Justice Julian Knowles told the 40-year-old father-of-three: “You were capable of taking decisions and making choices. This was grossly irresponsible behaviour by you.
“You left that vulnerable young woman to die in the saddest and most avoidable of circumstances. You showed blatant disregard for a very drunk and injured woman.”
Offering mitigation before sentencing, defence QC Stephen Vullo said Broadhurst, now of Blakeshall Farm, Wolverley, had set up home with Ms Connolly in the context of a loving relationship.
The couple had both been drinking heavily and had taken cocaine on the day leading up to Ms Connolly’s death, the court heard.
Stressing that Broadhurst had been cleared of what prosecutors initially claimed was an “angry” assault, Mr Vullo said of Ms Connolly’s death: “He accepts he should have recognised the risk she was in and failed to do so.
“He feels remorse for it and always has done. This case is about negligence and somebody losing a loved one.”
The lawyer added that Broadhurst knew his partner was bleeding but did not think she would come to any harm.
“The backdrop to this was a loving, and what was going to be a long-term, relationship,” Mr Vullo added.
Broadhurst, who was showed no emotion as he was sentenced, was told he will serve half of his sentence in prison and the remainder on licence.
A family statement released by Staffordshire Police following Broadhurst’s sentencing said: “Our lives changed forever when we found out that Natalie had died.
“During the last five weeks we have had to endure hearing the most horrendous and harrowing evidence of how Broadhurst left Natalie at the bottom of the stairs bleeding and in clear need for medical help.
“It is now clear to us that the guilty admission made by Broadhurst shows the heartless way in which he left Natalie at the bottom of the stairs, without any concern for her dignity or wellbeing.
“He has demonstrated what a callous, disrespectful person he really is, and has never publicly apologized or shown any remorse for the cruel way in which he left my daughter.
“Natalie was in the prime of her life and if Broadhurst had got the medical help from the emergency services at the time of this incident, Natalie may still be alive today.
“Natalie was a loving and caring daughter, granddaughter, and sister, but above all she was a loving mother to her 10-year-old daughter, who now has to grow up without her mummy by her side, through all those significant times in a young girl’s life.
“She will to have to live a life sentence without her mummy. Natalie was, and still is at the centre of our world, and we will all try to rebuild our lives knowing, we will no longer have the beauty, the joy and the happiness of having Natalie by our side.
“Our beautiful girl has gone forever, we will never forget Natalie she will remain in our hearts and souls forever.
“As a family we all have to ensure that Natalie’s daughter grows up, knowing how much we all loved her mummy and the very tragic and unnecessary way in which her life ended.”