Jailed For Life For Swanley Murder

A man has been jailed for life for the murder of his girlfriend in a quiet street in Swanley.

Adam Whelehan, 23, of Rosebery Avenue, Sidcup, must serve at least 26 years behind bars, after being found guilty of killing Natalie Jarvis following a four week trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

The court heard how 24-year-old Natalie was found badly injured in the street in Swanley Village Road late at night on 3 October 2012.

She had been stabbed in the neck 19 times and died at the scene a short time later.
 
Adam Whelehan had driven to Swanley, with co-defendant Thomas Fuller, 23 years-old, of Oakley Drive, Eltham, in the boot of the car, to meet Natalie. Whelehan got out of the car to speak with Natalie about their relationship but then returned and told Fuller to drive.
 
At 2.10am Adam Whelehan went to Bexleyheath police station, telling officers he wanted to speak to them about a murder. Station staff noted that he had blood on his hands.
 
A post-mortem examination gave the cause of Natalie’s death as haemorrhage and multiple stab wounds to the neck. A total of 19 wounds to the neck, some major, some superficial, were noted.
 
Whelehan and Fuller were both charged with murder, but a jury at Madistone Crown Court cleared Fuller of the charge at the end of the trial on Wednesday 24 April.
 
In a statement, Natalie’s family said: "Natalie Jarvis was the most amazing person anyone could wish to meet. She was beautiful inside and out. Her smile and laughter were infectious and the love she had for life, and everyone in her life, was overwhelming.

"Our family has been horrifically ripped apart by the senseless savage slaughter of the most loving sister and daughter anyone could ask for. Our home and lives are now a void of crushing silence without Natalie’s insatiable lust for life."

The murder investigation was the first of its kind to use the ‘virtual walk-through’ technology usually used by the Serious Collision Investigation Unit and enabled detectives to scan the large crime scene and present it to the court. As a result, the technology is likely to be used again in similar cases.

Investigating officer, Detective Inspector Gavin Moss from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: ‘What has really struck me throughout the course of this investigation is the complete dignity the family have displayed and I would like to publicly pay tribute to them and the strength that they have shown.

"A daughter and a sister was cruelly taken from them last October in such tragic circumstances, yet they have assisted our investigation massively, and helped us reach today’s result.

"Natalie was a young, popular girl, with many happy years and experiences to look forward to with her family and friends; Adam Whelehan stole that from her. Whelehan is a young man, but will be spending the rest of his youth exactly where he deserves to be – in prison."