The mum of a young woman murdered by her ex-boyfriend identified her body in her 27th birthday and even cut her cake in the mortuary.

Samantha Mitchell has now accused the police of letting her daughter Courtney down by not taking violent threats against her seriously. Courtney was fatally stabbed by Logan Burnett, 27, in a ‘cold and deliberate’ attack last August. Mrs Mitchell spoke out as Burnett was handed a life sentence – with a minimum term of 24 years – at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday.

The court heard Burnett, who had issues with alcohol, drugs and has 52 previous convictions, had been violent to Miss Mitchell. They had separated a month before her murder. During sentencing hearing, Mrs Mitchell hit out at police and said they let her daughter down ‘time after time’. She said: “If they had done their jobs properly she would still be here. They didn’t even try.”

Logan Burnett fatally stabbed 26-year-old mum-of-three Courtney in Ipswich, in a planned attack while she was on a night out with friends on August 6 last year. Mrs Mitchell described her world as “shattering into a million pieces” the day Courtney was murdered.

She said she had to identify Miss Mitchell’s body on what would have been her daughter’s 27th birthday. Mrs Mitchell said felt guilty she wasn’t with her daughter when she died and described Burnett as a ‘monster’. Courtney had told friends of reported physical and verbal abuse she had suffered at the hands of Burnett – including alleged threats to kill.

Judge Martyn Levett said Burnett had cruelly hunted down Miss Mitchell as if she was his quarry and had carried out a “personal execution”. He said that Burnett had fantasised about killing someone’ and had been part of an online group of people who watched real-life deaths. Riel Karmy-Jones KC, prosecuting, said the attack had been motivated by “obsessive jealousy” after Burnett found out that Miss Mitchell had a new boyfriend.

Miss Karmy-Jones told the court that Miss Mitchell had been with friends walking towards the skate park in Ipswich when one of her friends saw Burnett coming towards them. They started running away but Burnett, who was wearing a hooded top, caught up with Miss Mitchell and stabbed her four times.

A witness described Burnett as cornering Miss Mitchell against a fence and stabbing her “all over” with a large kitchen knife with a 14cm blade. Miss Mitchell had collapsed into the arms of a passer-by who heard her say: “I’ve been stabbed. I’ve been stabbed. Am I going to die?” Attempts were made at the scene to resuscitate her but she was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival at hospital.

Miss Mitchell’s dad said he would never forget seeing his daughter’s body in a coffin. He said Burnett had not only taken away his daughter but had also robbed her children of their mum.

For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk

If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy.

For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk

For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit** www.aafda.org.uk**.

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