Killer who stabbed fiancee to death made chilling confession to parents before dying in 80mph police chase, inquest says
A KILLER who stabbed his fiancée to death called his parents before dying during a police chase, an inquest heard.
Ben Crosby, 46, left his will “in a prominent place” on the kitchen table before stabbing Becci Rees-Hughes 26 times.
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Then he called his parents and said, “I messed up really bad. I killed her.’
When they arrived at the house in Beverley, East Yorkshire, they discovered mum Becci, 37, slumped on the sofa.
Crosby told his father, “I’m out” when he threatened to call Police and gave them a hug before they fled into his VW Polo.
An inquest heard he reached speeds of 80mph as officers followed him before crashing head-on into a van, leaving the driver with life-changing injuries.
Crosby was pronounced dead shortly afterwards horror on July 25, 2022, with a jury returning a verdict of accidental death.
Hull Coroner Court was told he had discovered Becci having an affair with a chef at the pub where she worked as a waitress while studying physics at Hull University.
The couple agreed to stay together and got engaged, but on the day before she died, Becci sent the other man a message saying, “I can’t get over you.”
Becci had previously told him she was splitting up with Crosby, who she described as “jealous”, saying they were only staying together for the sake of their children.
Crosby stabbed his fiancée several times with a knife and hit her with a baseball bat.
He then sparked a massive manhunt when he left her bloodied body in their home.
The investigation heard that police had tried to block his car but he sped away towards Seaton on the A1035.
How to get help
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Contact charities for help, including Women’s Aid’s live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarize yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without saying anything, but calling “55” instead.
- Make sure you always have some money with you, including change for a phone booth or bus ticket.
- If you suspect your partner is going to attack you, try going to a lower-risk part of the house, such as where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where knives or other weapons are likely to be present. Avoid rooms where you could become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you could be locked in a closet or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid offers a live chat service – Available on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You can also call the free 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
He then cut the corner of a bend and drove into the electrician’s van.
Jurors heard that Crosby failed to brake and appeared to deliberately ram the van coming from the opposite direction.
A forensic collision examiner said that while the electrician tried to take evasive action, “no such attempt was made by the Polo”.
The jury concluded that Crosby was accidentally killed after turning “into the opposite lane” and colliding with a Ford Transit car”.
An earlier investigation into Becci’s death found that she was unlawfully killed.