Bicester woman found guilty of murdering boyfriend
Bailey Heywood was found guilty of the murder of Dale Bond by jury today Friday September 13th after a two-week trial at Oxford Crown Court.
Last updated 13th Sep 2024
A woman from Bicester has been found guilty of the murder of her boyfriend at a trial at Oxford Crown Court.
23 year old Bailey Heywood, of Germander Way, in the town, was accused of murdering her boyfriend Dale Bond, 45, of Mullein Way, on March 13th this year.
On Wednesday 13th March, Thames Valley Police received a phone call from a member of the public, stating that they believed that a man had been seriously injured and provided details of who had injured them.
Officers were rapidly deployed to Mullein Road, Bicester, where they found Dale Bond in the lounge of the flat he lived in, with stab wounds. Attending officers provided emergency treatment, paramedics from South Central Ambulance and the Air Ambulance were deployed and they provided specialist emergency medical treatment. Sadly Mr Bond was pronounced dead at the scene.
At the same time as Mr Bond was being attended to, officers deployed to an address in Bicester where Bailey Heywood was arrested. She was found with her clothing covered in blood. She was arrested on suspicion of murder.
At a two week long trial Heywood said Mr Bond became angry on seeing messages to her from her ex boyfriend.
During the trial she admitted to stabbing Mr Bond twice but had claimed that she believed he was going to stab her after becoming angry and shouting.
Today, Friday 13th September, a jury of twelve at Oxford Crown Court found her guilty of his murder.
During the trial Heywood had denied one count of murder and one count of manslaughter.
The jury did not need to consider a verdict for the second charge and it will lay on the file.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Will Crowther of the Major Crime Unit, said: “My thoughts firstly go out to the family and friends of Mr Bond, who have lost a much loved son, father, brother, uncle, and friend.
“Dale’s life was taken at the hands of Heywood. The jury completely rejected Heywood’s account that she was acting in self-defence, and there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that Mr Bond attacked Heywood.
“The precise motives for the murder remain unclear to this day and Heywood is the only person who could tell us, but she has chosen not to, instead claiming self-defence.
“We know that Heywood went to see Mr Bond, who she was in a relationship with, and when he least expected it, she subjected him to a vicious attack stabbing him. One of the blows caused an un-survivable wound to his chest.
“Heywood left Mr Bond for dead and was arrested shortly after when we were alerted to the incident.
“I would like to pay tribute to the family of Mr Bond, who have been supportive throughout our investigation, and have acted with dignity during the court process. I hope that the conviction of Heywood will help them to move forward.”
Heywood will now be sentenced at the same court on Monday September 16th.