Woman who beat man to death with kettle in Aberdeen jailed for 18 years

A woman who violently murdered a man with a kettle at a flat in Aberdeen has been jailed for at least 18 years.

Elizabeth Ann Sweeney had denied murdering Neil Jolly at his home in the city’s Marischal Court area in June 2023.

The 49-year-old was repeatedly punched and struck with a kettle during the attack which resulted in more than 70 blunt force injuries, including to his head, neck, torso, arms and hands.

At the High Court in Aberdeen, Judge Andrew Miller said the victim’s injuries would be more expected to be seen from a car crash or a fall from height.

Mr Jolly’s body was discovered by officers on June 26, 2023, after Sweeney herself raised the alarm.

The 36-year-old lodged a special defence of self-defence, but a jury returned a unanimous murder verdict after a ten day trial at the High Court in Aberdeen.

During the trial, jurors were shown CCTV of Sweeney out in public after the murder had reportedly taken place.

She had washed the victim’s body with water and had attempted to clean blood from the bathroom and kettle.

Judge Miller noted the jurors rejected the claim that Mr Jolly had provoked her behaviour by allegedly sexually assaulting her.

Instead, jurors were said to be satisfied Sweeney showed prior malice towards Mr Jolly by assaulting him on at least two occasions in the weeks before his death.

The indictment claims this was all in an attempt to destroy evidence, hide the body of Mr Jolly and avoid arrest.

Sweeney faced an earlier charge that she assaulted Mr Jolly at an unknown location in Aberdeen by punching him on the head and body.

On Monday, she was handed a mandatory life sentence with at least 18 years in jail.

The court heard of her lengthy past criminal record, which included convictions for crimes of disorder, dishonesty, assault, and being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Judge Miller noted the criminal justice social work report, which highlighted Sweeney’s “difficult personal background” and longstanding drug addiction.

The judge added: “Although you maintain your general description, which the jury rejected, of how this incident began, the report states that you take full responsibility for Neil Jolly’s death and that you feel remorse for your actions.”

Statements written by Mr Jolly’s mother, son and sister were said to “powerfully express” how the family had suffered an “enormous loss”.

Following the court case, Detective Inspector William Murdoch said: “We acknowledge this sentence today and hope that this brings some comfort to the family and friends of Neil Jolly.”