Tenniswood claimed he’d had consensual “kinky” sex with Chipchase and that her death in his squalid Northampton in East Midlands, England home on January 30 was a result of his “overeagerness” to please her.
Advertisement
A jury has begun considering verdicts in the trial of an ex-bookkeeper accused of raping and strangling barmaid India Chipchase after a chance meeting outside a nightclub.
On Tuesday, Judge Mr Justice Saunders told him he would serve at least 30 years in prison.
India Chipchase was the girlfriend of Kiwi rugby player Evaan Reihana – the son of former All Black Bruce Reihana.
In a statement released via Northamptonshire Police, India’s family placed their thanks to people and organisations in Northampton and the surrounding community who helped them through their experience, and for respecting their privacy.
He told the court he used a pair of those gloves to re-clothe and pull a sheet over his victim’s body so she would not be cold.
“I have no doubt that he was very persuasive and convinced India in her befuddled state to come with him, promising her that she would be safe”.
Her father Jeremy Chipchase, in a video statement played in court, said: “I sincerely hope there’s no possibility that another woman ever falls into the hands of my daughter’s murderer”.
Ms Chipchase was living in the United Kingdom with her mother Suzanne, studying a diploma in health and social care.
A Birmingham Crown Court jury took just one hour and 45 minutes to convict Tenniswood of Stanley Road, Northampton, of rape and murder after a two-week trial.
Officers found the young woman’s mobile hidden in a box under the stairs, her shoes and handbag stored neatly in the neighbouring bedroom.
But as Ms Chipchase was led from the nightclub the worse for wear earlier that night, bouncer David Burry recalled her repeatedly telling him: “I just want to go home”.
The doorman put her into a cab, but Chipchase jumped out of the vehicle following an apparent disagreement with the driver over money.
At his home, he raped his victim with her clothes on and then “squeezed the life” out of her, the prosecution said.
Police then arrested Tenniswood on January 31 at the hotel.
Separated from friends after a night out, she was trying to get home.
He had told the court he had charmed her and she had agreed to have sex with him. Tenniswood lured her into a taxi not to her home but to his.
He took her to his house, where he raped and killed her.
Tenniswood had earlier checked into the Ibis Hotel in Northampton, where he was again spotted on CCTV.
He says the second time, India removed her hands while he continued to apply the pressure for up 10 seconds, before – as he describes – “her body spasmed and she let out this extraordinary exhale”.
“I honestly can’t believe that you have left us in that way I will be playing for you for as long as I know”.
In his account, Tenniswood claimed the idea to strangle Ms Chipchase was her suggestion and her death was an accident.
He insisted he didn’t realise she had choked and went to sleep for a few hours before waking to discover her not breathing. I don’t want another father to hear their daughter’s gone missing like I did, then to hear her body has been found.
During the trial, Tenniswood was described as an “oddball” who kept pictures and newspaper clippings of women in his flats as “ornaments”.
Advertisement
Tenniswood claimed he kept most of his belongings covered in dust sheets because of “OCD” and wrapped his computer keyboard in cling film to keep it clean.
