Couple tortured and brutally killed by ex who was ‘motivated by jealousy'

Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault and rape which some readers may find distressing.

A man has admitted to the heinous crimes of murdering his former partner and her new boyfriend.

A judge has told Marcus Osborne that he killed Katie Higton and Steven Harnett 'in circumstances in which you planned the attacks and you executed them over a period of several hours'.

Katie, 27, and Steven, 25, were found dead at her house in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, back in May.

Family handout

On Wednesday (28 February), Osborne pleaded guilty to two counts of murder when he appeared for a brief hearing at Leeds Crown Court.

He also admitted to the false imprisonment and rape of another woman.

Judge Guy Kearl KC, the Recorder of Leeds, remanded Osborne in custody and told Osborne: "You have pleaded guilty to the murder of two people – your former partner Katie Higton and her subsequent partner Steven Harnett – in circumstances in which you planned the attacks and you executed them over a period of several hours on 15 May of this year."

Kearl also told the defendant he faced an inevitable life sentence for the murders.

West Yorkshire Police said officers were called to Ms Higton’s address at 9.53am on Monday May 15 after paramedics found two people with multiple injuries believed to have been inflicted by a bladed weapon.

Family handout

Both Katie and Steven were confirmed to have died at the scene.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had received a mandatory referral and was assessing the situation.

A spokesman said at the time that this was due to the fact officers had contact with both victims and Osborne in the days prior to this tragic incident.

Following her death, Katie's family and friends paid tribute to her as 'the best mum' and said the family was 'absolutely devastated' as they placed flowers on behalf of her two eldest children at the scene.

Her former brother-in-law, who asked not to be named, said his brother had been in a relationship with mother-of-four Katie for seven years and was the father of her two eldest children, daughters aged nine and 10.

He told the PA news agency the children 'were in the property when the incident took place', describing Ms Higton as 'bubbly, outgoing, fun' and 'a great mum'.

It was revealed today (1 March) that Osborne has been sentenced to a whole life order at Leeds Crown Court for the murder of Katie and Steven.