Thug killed model ex-girlfriend and dumped body in river before trying to murder her young daughter

A THUG killed his model ex-girlfriend and dumped her body in a river before trying to murder her young daughter.

Schizophrenic Charles Byrne, 25, strangled and stabbed Christina Rowe, 28, at her home in Worcester in a drink and drug-fuelled rage before stamping on her lifeless body.


Miss Rowe's young daughter witnessed the killing and Byrne tried to strangle her but she played dead.

He then stuffed Miss Rowe's body in a suitcase and drove to an industrial estate in Worcester where he dumped it in the River Severn.

Her body was discovered near the Diglis Bridge on February 10 last year.

A post-mortem examination revealed she died from a single wound which pierced her heart.

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Byrne met Christina, from the Philippines, on a dating app but their relationship ended shortly before he killed her between February 9 and 10.

He denied murder but admitted her manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Byrne also admitted the attempted murder of her daughter, who cannot be identified, between the same time period.

A court heard Byrne "strangled and stabbed" Christina, telling police: "I just lost my temper."

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He has been held at high-security Ashworth Hospital since he admitted the brutal killing last December.

Today he was jailed for 16 years when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court, and was also sentenced to 13 years for attempted murder which will run concurrently.

Byrne was ordered to remain at Ashworth Hospital until he is deemed fit to serve his sentence in prison.

Judge Mr Justice Pepperall said: "After an argument you strangled Miss Rowe, stamped on her and stabbed her in her heart.

"When arrested you thought Christina Rowe was a trans man harbouring a child.

"You explained you had lost your temper and strangled her, she fell and her lips turned blue. You stabbed her in the chest to 'make it quick'."

Judge Pepperall said his attack on Miss Rowe woke her young daughter, who then strangled and smashed her head on the ground multiple times before she pretended to be dead.

"You then carried the suitcase laden with Christina to your car," he added.

"Having disposed of the mother's body, you returned to her house with a shovel to bury the little girl.

"She climbed into bed and pretended to be asleep. Mercifully, you decided against your attempt to murder her."

The court heard Byrne smoked strong skunk cannabis and drank spirits in the 48 hours before the killing.

Miss Rowe's daughter told police: "I don't think he wanted to hurt me. I just think he didn't want to go to jail.

"I knew he had murdered her. He knew I saw him."

The court heard Byrne had schizophrenia and was suffering delusions and hallucinations at the time of the killing.

Dr Higgins, who treated Byrne, said: "At the time, Charles Byrne was 100 per cent convinced that Christina Rowe was an imposter. He remained completely and utterly delusional."

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Christina's heartbroken father said in a statement: "The impact has been immeasurable. It has caused immense trauma."

Her sister added: "I long for my sister's hug and warmth."

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