A drug addict who “savagely” stabbed his girlfriend to death told police, “I’m a king, I can’t live without my queen,” after his arrest. Anthony Hoey, 50, repeatedly knifed Frances Dwyer, 48, on her sofa at her home in Tile Cross, Birmingham, in the early hours of March 30 last year. Following the murder, Hoey fled in Dwyer’s Audi, triggering ANPR cameras, which led to a police chase near Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull.
Officers Tasered and arrested him after he crashed the vehicle. Hoey, from Handsworth, pleaded guilty to murder, two counts of theft, aggravated vehicle taking, and dangerous driving. On Wednesday, March 5, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years at Birmingham Crown Court.
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Judge Melbourne Inman KC described the attack as “sustained and savage,” noting that Dwyer suffered nine deep stab wounds, including a fatal 17cm injury to her chest. Dwyer’s family expressed their devastation, with her mother, Linda, describing the “dread” of never seeing her “beautiful daughter” again, reported BirminghamLive.
Her daughter, Kimberley, called Dwyer an “amazing mother, daughter, nan, sister, auntie, and friend,” adding, “So many lives have been impacted by the actions of one man.” Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC revealed that Dwyer, an “independent” woman, had lost contact with many friends due to her relationship with Hoey, a heavily convicted criminal she had known since their teenage years.
Hoey had previously been jailed for seven years in 2016 for robbing a taxi driver with a knife and a fake shotgun. Despite his criminal past, the pair rekindled their relationship after his release. The court heard that on March 19, 2023, Hoey stole Dwyer’s mobile phones and Audi, locking her in her home.
He returned days later, demanding money for drugs, but she refused. On March 29, the couple was captured on CCTV “arm-in-arm” at a post office, appearing “on good terms.” However, in the early hours of March 30, Hoey called the police, claiming he wanted to hand himself in for breaching his robbery conviction license.
He left the station before officers arrived. Shortly after, Hoey returned to Dwyer’s home, where he launched the fatal attack. He stabbed her multiple times with a kitchen knife, leaving bloodstains on the walls as she tried to defend herself. Hoey then fled in her Audi, leading police on a high-speed chase before being apprehended.
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During the pursuit, he called the police, claiming he needed to smoke heroin and falsely suggesting he had a gun. After his arrest, Hoey made several unprompted admissions, including telling a prison officer, “How can I be okay? I have murdered my partner.” He also expressed a desire to die, stating, “I need to protect my wife,” and reiterating, “I’m a king, I can’t live without my queen.”
Defense barrister Paul Lewis KC argued that Hoey, who had a history of substance abuse and a severe personality disorder, was “deeply remorseful.” However, Judge Inman concluded that Hoey’s actions were driven by being “drunk and high on drugs,” describing the attack as an “explosion of extreme violence.” He noted that Hoey’s remorse was primarily for himself, not his victim.
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