Nurse denies murder

A NURSE accused of murdering his lover admitted trying to strangle the mother-of-two the day before her body was discovered in a disused airfield, a court has heard.

Kim Fuller, 34, told family members she thought she would never see her children again during the terrifying incident on February 21 last year, when Sean Hilton put his hands around her throat and “tried to kill her” at their home.

During the first full day of the murder trial at Cambridge Crown Court yesterday, Hilton, dressed in a smart suit, sat silently as a jury made up of eight men and four women listened to the events that led up Ms Fuller's death on March 3.

Ms Fuller, who had been living with her mother and her stepfather in Exning, near Newmarket, following two failed relationships, started dating Hilton in August 2004 after they met through a dating agency.

During the early months of the relationship, the couple appeared to be “happy together”, but Hilton - who has a history of domestic violence - soon became jealous over Ms Fuller's contact with male friends, and they would often row as a result.

On February 23, Ms Fuller called her mother, Connie Goddard, asking her to meet her at the couple's home in Brook Street, Soham.

“She sounded very upset,” said Mrs Goddard. “When we arrived at the house, Kim told me what Sean had tried to do to her on the Monday.

“Sean seemed very distressed, as though he did not want to be there, and he said 'I tried to kill her. I put my hands around her throat and I tried to kill her'.”

Ms Fuller, who worked as cashier at the Nationwide Building Society in Mildenhall, moved back in with her mother soon after the incident in February.

On March 3, she arrived home from work and announced she was having dinner with Hilton that evening.

Mrs Goddard said: “I asked her if she was going to stay the night, and she said 'give me some credit mum, I am not that stupid'.

“As she left the house, I told her to be careful. That was the last time I ever saw her.”

Mrs Goddard, and her husband of 21 years, Pete, became concerned when they were unable to contact Ms Fuller on her mobile phone the following morning.

They drove to Hilton's home, where they discovered his car was gone, although Ms Fuller's vehicle was still in the drive.

When police officers entered the house that day, they discovered two glasses of wine, and the remnants of an evening meal.

During his opening statement before the court, Timothy Barnes, prosecuting, said Hilton had gone shopping in Norwich on March 4, and bought toiletries and new clothes.

“He kept the new clothes on, and put his own clothes, which were stained with Kim Fuller's blood, into a bag,” he said.

“He got back in his car and drove to a hotel in Landsend, in Cornwall, where he gave his correct name but made up a home address in Bury St Edmunds.

“On March 5, he drove to St Ives, where he was arrested on suspicion of abduction. At this point Kim Fuller's body had not been found.”

On March 6, Hilton, who used to work as a nurse at Papworth Hospital, near Cambridge, was taken back to Cambridgeshire, where he was interviewed by police for three days under caution.

Mr Barnes said: “When asked if he was responsible for Ms Fuller's disappearance, he replied 'No, it's not true, I love the girl to bits.

“I would not do anything to jeopardise what bit of a relationship we have left.” He told police he had not seen her since about 7.30pm on March 3.”

Mr Barnes also said that on the night of March 3, 14 text messages were sent from Ms Fuller's mobile phone from a location near Langham, in Norfolk, to a male friend asking for his name and address.

“The Crown Persecution Service says these were sent by the defendant,” he said.

On March 6, Ms Fuller's body was discovered face down in a field near the same village. She was still wearing her Nationwide uniform.

A pathologist report later revealed she had died from affixation consistent with an arm being held tight around her neck.

Hilton denies murder. The trial continues.