Man beat his friend, 43, to death after catching him having sex with his ex-girlfriend, 23, in a playground

A man has been found guilty of beating his friend to death after catching him having sex with his ex-girlfriend in a children’s playground.

Kyle Morley, 29, had been out for drinks with David Bettison, 43, and two other friends in Hugglescote, Leicestershire, before the violent encounter on February 24.

On his walk home at around 2am, Morley came across Mr Bettison and his ex-girlfriend, Katie Lamb having sex in a children’s play area on Ashburton road.

Morley quickly charged at them, the court heard, and punched 23-year-old Miss Lamb in the face, ‘knocking’ her out.

He then attacked Mr Bettison, who made no attempts to fight back at the time.

Morley then repeatedly ‘punched, kicked and stamped’ on Mr Bettison causing severe facial injuries.

Police later arrived at the scene but due to the severity of his injuries, Mr Bettison was pronounced dead at the scene. 

David Bettison (pictured) was murdered aged 43 after Kyle Morley ‘punched, kicked and stamped’ on him

Police cordon at Ashburton Road Recreation Ground in Hugglescote, Leicestershire where Mr Bettison was found dead

The official cause of death was detailed as ‘blunt force trauma to the face.’ 

Following his arrest, Morley gave Leicestershire Police a prepared statement in which he said he accepted assaulting Mr Bettison but denied intending to cause him serious injury. 

He added in his statement that he was ‘heavily intoxicated’ and had been taking class A drugs.

Prosecutor Michael Brady KC previously told the jury: ‘The defendant ran to them and punched her with sufficient force she was rendered unconscious. 

‘She remembers being on the ground, watching the defendant punching David Bettison, who was also on the ground. Mr Bettison was not fighting back and his face was covered in his blood. 

‘She heard David Bettison making ‘rattling noises’ which, from her experience working in an old folks’ home, made her think that he was going to die.’ 

The jury in the case had been sent out to begin deliberating on Friday and returned their unanimous guilty verdict this morning, finding Morley guilty of murdering Mr Bettison in the early hours of Friday, February 24.

After the jury foreman announced the guilty verdict, Morley, of St Bernards Road, Whitwick, near Coalville, sat with his head in his hands, sobbing loudly. 

Judge Timothy Spencer KC told Morley he would sentence him this afternoon.

Murder leads to a life sentence but Judge Spencer will have to decide how long Morley spends behind bars before he gets his first chance to apply to the Parole Board for release.

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