Life-sentence for Hillingdon man who stabbed girlfriend to death

Billy White, 23, will serve a minimum of 15 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend Lucy Avris while she slept at their home in Pinkwell Lane.

White was due to stand trial at the Old Bailey this week but changed his plea to guilty.

He originally admitted the offence a year ago in court but reversed the plea following psychiatrist reports.

“This was a violent and unprovoked attack,” said Detective Inspector Simon Pickford, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

"I must pay tribute to Lucy's family who have conducted themselves throughout these proceedings with incredible courage and dignity."

Police attended the property with the London Ambulance Service and the London Air Ambulance after a call at 5.10am reported a woman suffering from stab injuries on Saturday March 6 2015.

Lucy had been stabbed in the neck and covered with a blood-stained quilt in the bedroom.

She was taken to Hillingdon Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Nothing seemed to be amiss as the couple socialised with friends and family at their home the night before, but their relationship had been volatile for 18 months.

White immediately called his mother in distress to confess to the murder.

He had a history of mental health problems, suffering from a personality disorder and psychosis.

He was arrested at the scene with his hands covered in blood.

He was charged with murder on March 8 2015, claiming he had no memory of the attack in a police interview.

Lucy’s family said in a statement that White had previously been violent to her and they had pleaded with her to end the relationship.

The statement read: “There are times when we are all together and there is silence, we’ll say nothing and we look for Lucy, but she is not there, only in our hearts, we miss her so much.

"As for Lucy’s daughter, this is the hardest. She understands her mummy has gone but how do you tell a little girl that her mummy’s boyfriend murdered her?”