A MAN who beat his partner to death before dumping her body has been jailed after being convicted of her murder.

Alan Edney, aged 32, was found guilty of the murder of Kerry Owen after a four-week trial at Worcester Crown Court earlier today (Thursday, June 29).

Kerry’s body was discovered by a man walking his dog in Wast Hills Lane, Hopwood, in May last year.

The man’s dog discovered a pool of blood and Kerry’s body was found nearby.

During the trial, the jury heard Edney, of Kenilworth Road, Birmingham, had killed the 35-year-old in a "savage beating" before dumping her body in a ditch, which he attempted to conceal with grass cuttings.

He then lied to cover his tracks, telling family members Kerry had been killed in a hit-and-run collision and that he had accompanied her body to hospital.

He also claimed he had been taken to a police station to give a statement about the collision.

Unbeknown to Edney, a police investigation had begun as soon as Kerry’s body was discovered which promptly unravelled his lies and he was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Bromsgrove Advertiser: Kerry OwenKerry Owen (Image: West Mercia Police)

Edney has received a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 20 years in prison.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Gerry Smith, who led the murder investigation, said: “Edney spent the hours after he had killed Kerry elaborately covering his tracks; instead of calling for an ambulance after he had brutally attacked her, he sought to cover her body and hide his involvement.

"He contacted her family and told them she had been killed in a hit-and-run collision.

“Even after he was arrested on suspicion of her murder he continued to lie, telling officers he had alibis. 

"He later told officers in custody he had been in bed at the time Kerry was killed.

“However, our investigation uncovered Edney’s elaborate web of lies with extensive enquiries, which included forensic, house to house and CCTV enquiries.

"This proved his account was false and he was in fact responsible for her murder.

“Edney will now face the consequences of his violent and deceitful actions and while today’s verdict will not undo a horrific killing, I hope it brings some solace to Kerry’s family that justice has been done.”

Emily Clewer of the CPS said: “Alan Edney cruelly assaulted an innocent woman who loved him and didn’t deserve to die in such an awful way. He subjected Kerry Owen to unimaginable violence leaving her with devastating injuries that led to her death.

"He then spun a web of lies to evade prosecution and pretended to be a devastated partner when in fact he had inflicted the terrible injuries on Ms Owen. Thankfully, the jury saw through his lies and today’s verdict has ensured that he will face the consequences of his actions.

"Our thoughts are with the family of Kerry Owen, whose lives have been devastated by the actions of Alan Edney.”