‘It was your baby!’ Killer shouted at as he is found guilty of murdering his heavily pregnant ex in her Croydon home

There was applause in court this afternoon (Friday, July 10) as a crane driver was found guilty of stabbing his heavily pregnant ex-girlfriend in a jealous rage, killing her and their baby.

Aaron McKenzie, 26, broke into Kelly Fauvrelle’s bedroom as she slept at her home in Thornton Heath, in Croydon, and stabbed her 21 times, causing catastrophic injuries.

Their son Riley was delivered by Caesarean section but died in hospital four days later.

The Old Bailey heard how McKenzie killed Royal Mail worker Miss Fauvrelle, 26, in a “vicious and cowardly” attack after their “toxic” relationship ended and she moved on.

The defendant denied it, claiming a man named Mike, who she owed money to, was responsible.

A jury found McKenzie, from Peckham, guilty of murdering Miss Fauvrelle, the manslaughter of baby Riley and possession of a knife.

Miss Fauvrelle’s family sat in Court One of the Old Bailey as the verdict was delivered.

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Jurors deliberated for a total of two hours, 46 minutes to reach their verdicts.

As McKenzie was taken from the dock, a man shouted: “How do you feel, you evil coward?” from the public gallery.

Other members in court clapped briefly as another man shouted “it was your baby”.

The court has heard Miss Fauvrelle’s relationship with McKenzie, with whom she shared an interest in motorbikes, had ended early last year.

In February, McKenzie messaged that he was feeling “not needed, not wanted, unimportant and lost” as he appealed to her.

Miss Fauvrelle told him he needed professional help, saying: “Until u get the fact I don’t want to be with you anymore… I will no longer speak or see you unless [it] is about the baby.”

Last March, Miss Fauvrelle told his mother that the relationship was “toxic” but she would not deny him access to their child.

At about 3.15am on June 29 last year, an intruder broke into Miss Fauvrelle’s family home on Raymead Avenue, through patio doors.

She was eight months pregnant at the time.

‘A vicious and cowardly attack’

Prosecutor Duncan Penny QC had said: “That intruder proceeded to launch a vicious and a cowardly attack upon her, inflicting a total of 21 stab wounds with a knife.

“In the process, the intruder murdered not only Kelly Fauvrelle, but through his attack upon Kelly he killed Riley, the unborn child she was carrying.”

Miss Fauvrelle was murdered in her ground floor bedroom as her family slept upstairs.

Hearing Miss Fauvrelle’s screams, her sister had come downstairs to find Kelly dying, in her bedroom, where the cot was set up ready for the arrival of her baby.

Kelly’s family did not see the suspect come and go from the property and there was no sign of forced entry.

In the wake of the attack, McKenzie pretended to have nothing to do with it.

He went to the hospital where medical staff were trying to save the life of his child, “posing as a victim”.

The defendant lied to police and did not tell them that he had spent over an hour before the killing accessing and reading his ex-partner’s emails.

He even joined his ex-partner’s family as they mourned her loss and police continued, for a time, to treat him as a witness.

McKenzie continued to deceive police, hospital staff and Ms Fauvrelle’s family until he was arrested and confessed.

He admitted, via his solicitor, to being responsible for the deaths saying: “No one else was involved in this. There was no reason for it other than my faults.”

He was charged but following psychiatric examinations, despite his previous admissions, he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

McKenzie claimed that when he admitted the offences he was under pressure. He also provided the first name of another man who he claimed was responsible for the murder.

Despite extensive enquiries, no evidence was discovered to corroborate this new account, or to indicate that the “new suspect” existed.

Following the guilty verdicts, Claire Mays, from the CPS, said: “This was a vicious and cowardly attack on a heavily pregnant woman, which was borne out of jealousy. Aaron McKenzie murdered his ex-girlfriend and in turn also killed their child Riley.

“Just hours after carrying out the attack, McKenzie went for a driving lesson as if nothing had happened.

“The prosecution evidence included a confession McKenzie had made to police officers taking responsibility for the killings before he decided to change his story and blame his actions on his learning difficulties and depression.

“By choosing to take this tragic case to trial McKenzie took the family of his victim through the heartbreak and ordeal of listening to all of his lies and the damning evidence against someone who had once been a part of their family.

“Although nothing can bring back Kelly and Riley, I hope these convictions provide some comfort to the family. Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.”

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Norman, who was part of the investigation, added: “This case has been nothing short of heartbreaking for Kelly’s family and for the officers who have become close to them.

“The agonising loss of such a young woman and her child at a time when they were eagerly awaiting Riley’s birth and looking forward to a happy future is beyond imagining.

“Despite the evidence against him, McKenzie has subjected Kelly and Riley’s family to the trauma of a trial.

“The theft of Kelly and Riley’s happy futures is something that will haunt those who loved her forever and I sincerely hope that Aaron McKenzie is similarly affected as he faces his future incarcerated.”

McKenzie will be sentenced on July 17.