LISA WOOLLEY was delighted when her lonely sister found a new man three years after breaking up with her long-term partner.
But six weeks into the romance, Ian Bennett murdered 38-year-old Kerry, stabbing her 54 times in a jealous rage and then forcing his mother to cover up the crime.
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Six weeks into their romance, Ian Bennett, right, killed mother-of-two Kerry Woolley, left, after stabbing her 54 times with a kitchen knife Credit: True Life Stories
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Police photo of Ian Bennett after his arrest Credit: West Midlands Police
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Bennett’s mother Lynda was also given three years after body camera footage showed her discarding the kitchen knives used in Kerry’s murderCredit: West Midlands Police
Bennett, now 40, was jailed in 2021 after his mother Lynda’s CCTV footage showed her helping him dispose of the kitchen knives he used to kill mum-of-two Kerry.
Lisa (44), who liked her sister’s new partner at first, says that before the murder he became possessive and sent her paranoid messages about Kerry.
She wants to raise awareness about domestic violence and help others spot the red flags they need to watch out for.
Her attempt to raise the profile of the issue comes as experts have criticized the government for failing to protect women.
Figures shared by the Femicide Census reveal that 350 women have been killed by a man since the murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021.
Of these, eight out of ten had a relationship with their killer, and 43 percent were killed by a former or current partner.
Lisa says Kerry was her best friend and they were “inseparable”.
She told The Sun: “Kerry and Ian had only been dating for just over a month. This shouldn’t have happened.
“Ian has shown no remorse and his mother was no better and also denied everything.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t miss Kerry’s vivaciousness that could lift anyone’s spirits.”
‘Alarm bells, was he possessive?’
Kerry and Lisa, who both worked in insurance companies, lived behind each other in Solihull, West Mids, and were incredibly close.
Lisa says: “Kerry and I loved cozying up on the sofa with takeout and a glass of wine while our partners were out.
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Kerry’s heartbroken sister Lisa recounts her harrowing experience Credit: True Life Stories
“Kerry was the mother of two children, now 15 and 12, who she had with her childhood sweetheart.
“We had family barbecues on weekends. During the week, Kerry worked incredibly hard, juggling long shifts, two children and her home.”
But after 20 years together, Kerry and her longtime partner split in 2017. Kerry moved into her own apartment and they shared custody of the children.
Lisa says, “As her sister, I could tell she was lonely.
“Then one day, three years after the breakup, Kerry told me she’d met someone — a guy from school.
“She said his name was Ian and he was in the year below her.
“Because I was in the year above Kerry, I scanned my brain but I couldn’t remember him.
“Ian messaged her out of the blue on Facebook and they went on a few dates.
“She seemed to like Kerry so I was very happy for her.”
Kerry and Ian had only been dating for a little over a month. This shouldn’t have happened
Lisa Woolley
Just a few weeks later, in June 2020, Ian added Lisa on Facebook to introduce himself and talk about Kerry.
She says: “I would check on Kerry and he would always respond quickly. He was cute.
“But after a few weeks he started acting jealous. He once asked me why she was in contact with her ex-boyfriend.
Another time he asked me if she had ever slept with one of her male friends.
“At first alarm bells rang for me and I wondered if he was possessive.
“But whenever I spoke to Kerry, she seemed so happy. I decided not to think about it.
“Days later, I got a call from Ian in the middle of the night. He was babbling and sounded very drunk.
“He said Kerry cheated on him with a woman.”
That night, in July 2020, Kerry revealed that the couple had gone to a wine bar earlier that evening, met up with a friendly couple and returned to their apartment.
As Ian and the woman’s partner jumped to the garage, Kerry became hot and took off her sweater.
Alarm bells were ringing in my head and I wondered if he was being possessive
Lisa Woolley
Seeing her in a tank top upon her return, Ian accused her of sleeping with another woman.
He threw the remote at Kerry’s TV and broke it.
Lisa says: “It was really confusing. I told Ian Kerry he wasn’t bisexual. I said, ‘Go home and get some sleep.’ It was obviously a stupid, drunken argument.
“The next day, Kerry called me and was laughing with Ian saying they were fine.
“Ian said in the background that he was sorry for being stupid and that he would replace Kerry’s TV.
“I was glad they sorted things out. I had a little chat with Kerry and said goodbye to her.”
Later that night, Lisa saw that Kerry had posted a photo of her and Ian smiling together on social media.
The next morning, Ian texted Lisa: “Did you talk to Kerry today? We had a fight because I went home early last night.”
She was attacked. I shook my head and said ‘no’. I didn’t believe it
Lisa Woolley
Lisa says: “I answered and said he was probably sleeping. But throughout the day, Ian continued to text, worried that he still hadn’t heard from her.
“I was busy with my mum, with Kerry’s children, so I didn’t talk to her. Then later that afternoon Ian called me and threw me a tantrum.
“He cried, said that he was in her apartment, that the door was unlocked and that he found her covered in blood.
“She was attacked. I shook my head and said ‘no’. I didn’t believe it.”
After speeding up to Kerry’s apartment, which was cordoned off by the police, Lisa saw Ian standing by the front door.
She says: “I had not seen him live before, but I recognized him immediately in the photographs.
‘Ian and his mum lied through their teeth’
“He was acting flippant and avoiding eye contact with me.
“Then the policeman told me that Kerry was dead. I couldn’t cry—I was too stiff. At that moment, my world came crashing down.
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Bennett shown throwing evidence on Lynda’s dash cam Credit: West Midlands Police
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CCTV footage shows Bennett leaving to throw the weapon into a canal after the brutal stabbing Credit: West Midlands Police
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A close-up shows Bennett filmed carrying a knife Credit: West Midlands Police
“A few moments later, the police arrested Ian and I didn’t know what to believe. Then I saw an elderly woman talking to the police.
“She came up to me, introduced herself as Lynda and said she was Ian’s mum. I said Kerry told me nice things about her.
“She said she was sad about what happened to Kerry and that she was with Ian.
“I was in chaos and had to go home and tell Kerry’s children and family that she was gone. We were all beside ourselves.”
A few days later, the police informed Lisa that they had discovered Ian’s mom’s dashcam footage from the night of the murder.
In the video, Lynda can be seen picking up Ian from Kerry’s flat and driving him to the canal bridge where he threw the murder weapon into the water.
Lisa says: “I couldn’t understand it. Ian killed my sister and then his mom helped him get the police out of the scene. I felt sick.”
Afterwards, the truth came out and Lisa revealed that night, in a fit of rage, that Ian had used two large kitchen knives to stab Kerry 54 times in her neck.
All the times Ian had acted jealous came flooding back and I felt guilty. I wished I had ended the relationship
Lisa Woolley
After that, he strangled and suffocated her with his hand until she died.
Lisa says: “My heart was broken. All the times Ian had acted jealous came flooding back and I felt guilty. I wished I had ended the relationship.”
In November 2021, Bennett was found guilty of murder at Birmingham Crown Court and sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 25 years.
Lynda, 65, was found guilty of assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice and was jailed for three years.
Lisa says: “Ian lied through his teeth in court, as did his mum. They were monsters.
“I was relieved we got justice for Kerry, but I was so angry. All the evidence was there, but Ian made us go through the pain and agony of the trial.
“Now, looking back, I see how he manipulated me. Kerry’s children were our strength in our dark days.
“We have no choice but to live in our grief, but we will never forget her and make sure her memory lives on with her children.”
HOW TO GET HELP
Women’s Aid has the following advice for victims of domestic violence:
- Always keep your mobile phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you’re in danger, call 999. You don’t have to speak – if the operator asks you to, call 55 so they know it’s a real emergency and you’ll be connected to the police.
- Always have some cash with you, including change for a payphone or bus ticket.
- If you suspect that your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a less risky part of the house – for example, where there is an exit and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where knives or other weapons are likely to be found. Avoid rooms where you could become trapped, such as a bathroom or where you could be locked in a closet or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, the SupportLine is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200.
The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis. Contact [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service available weekdays from 8am to 6pm and weekends from 10am to 6pm.
You can also call the free 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education