My heartbreak at hearing my daughter warn police her man was going to hurt her – in recording played at her murder trial
A MUM has revealed the heartbreaking moment she heard her daughter warn police her partner was going to hurt her, in a recording played at her murder trial. For Barbara Saunders, that was the last time she would hear daughter Natalie’s voice, after she was savagely strangled and beaten to death by her boyfriend. Evil […]
A MUM has revealed the heartbreaking moment she heard her daughter warn police her partner was going to hurt her, in a recording played at her murder trial.
For Barbara Saunders, that was the last time she would hear daughter Natalie’s voice, after she was savagely strangled and beaten to death by her boyfriend.
Evil Stephen Charlton, 24, subjected mum-of-five Natalie Saunders to 70 beatings – causing injuries on 85 separate sites of her body – before strangling to death.
Natalie, 33, was beaten so badly that her own mother didn’t recognise her body – and Teeside Crown Court heard she looked like she’d been hit by a lorry.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous Digital, Barbara, 60, from Middlesbrough, said: “It killed me to sit through the trial, knowing what had happened was horrendous.
“Hearing Natalie’s voice played to the court as she told police he was going to hurt her was heartbreaking.
“I knew that would be the last time I would ever hear her voice again.”
Natalie was beaten to death by her partner of four months in October 2018, after he moved into her home and became abusive.
In April, Charlton was jailed for a minimum of 21 years, after a jury found him guilty of the brutal murder.
Barbara and husband Charles, 63, are now raising three of their grandchildren and want to urge other victims of domestic abuse to get help.
Hearing Natalie’s voice played to the court as she told police he was going to hurt her was heartbreaking. I knew that would be the last time I would ever hear her voice again
Barbara Saunders
Barbara said: “She suffered, it was horrendous, she was tortured. He did this to her, for what reason?
“When Charles got a phone call from his sister, saying ‘the police are at Natalie’s’, he left the house without even telling me where he was going.
“When he got to her house the police said he couldn’t go in, it was a crime scene.
“We knew, we just knew. Our lives changed forever that day.
“The police didn’t come round until the late afternoon to tell us but we were all heartbroken.
“We couldn’t face anyone. I was in shock, I was screaming, she didn’t deserve any of that, he didn’t need to do it.
“He was using her, he knew what he was doing, he was trying to silence her.”
Devastatingly, Natalie had an appointment at a domestic violence charity scheduled for October 11 – four days after her death.
The mum had previously been in abusive relationships but had escaped and turned her life around before meeting Stephen.
Barbara said: “Natalie had got better, she was within reach, we thought we had got her back and now she is gone, forever.
When Charles got to her house the police said he couldn’t go in, it was a crime scene. We knew, we just knew. Our lives changed forever that day
Barbara Saunders
“She loved her children, she loved us, she met the wrong person at the wrong time.
“The only good to come from this is the thought of saving someone else. No-one should have to go through what Natalie did ever again.
“The children are the reason we’ve stayed strong, they are all Natalie, they are all of her best qualities.
“We can see Natalie in them, we’re keeping her memory alive for them.”
WHERE CAN I GET HELP?
You don’t have to suffer in silence.
If you are experiencing domestic violence or someone you know is there are groups that can help.
Refuge runs a free, 24-hour helpline on 0808 2000 247.
You can also visit the website or contact Women’s Aid.
Natalie’s brother Wayne, 40, an offshore maintenance supervisor from Stockton-on-Tees, said: “My main aim for speaking out is to raise awareness of the consequences of domestic violence, either physical or mental.
“Please report it, no matter how many times you’ve done it previously, no matter how small you think it may be.
“It’s important that every incident is logged – this has provided vital evidence throughout Natalie’s case.”
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Wayne’s wife Kelly, 38, an office manager, added: “We as a family have been left serving a life sentence. The pain never leaves you and we will never have closure, we will just have to learn with coping mechanisms to get through our darkest and hardest of days.
“Natalie has been taken far too early, taken away from five children a mother, father and a brother.
Please as a last plea don’t let this happen to your loved one or someone you see this could be happening to.”
We previously spoke to a mum who was guilt-ridden after her boyfriend killed her daughter by stamping on her during a sick game – leaving 45 injuries.