A Dundee thug murdered his fiancee on bonfire night after putting her through a horrific catalogue of domestic violence.
Kenneth Melville, 59, had taken heroin, crack and street valium before he battered Yvonne Barr to death at her flat in Dundee on November 5 2021.
Melville later claimed he had found the 47 year-old mum already badly hurt.
But a judge was told how Miss Barr had previously sought the help of Scottish Women’s Aid due to her suffering at his violent hands.
Melville, who was supposed to be her carer, had left her injured on numerous occasions in the lead-up to the killing.
She was forced to make five visits to the hospital in just over a month.
Melville was jailed for a minimum 17 years after he pled guilty to murder at the High Court in Glasgow.
Given refuge accommodation
The hearing on Tuesday was told how the pair had been in a relationship for nine years.
Miss Barr had diabetes and used a walking stick and a zimmer frame.
Former print worker Melville was described as her “sole carer”.
They got engaged in June 2017, according to her Facebook page.
On October 26 2021, Yvonne was allocated “refuge accommodation” by Scottish Women’s Aid after a series of incidents involving Melville.
Prosecutor Gavin Anderson KC said: “Melville had threatened Miss Barr and been violent towards her on previous occasions.
“Miss Barr never formally reported these incidents as crimes to the police.
“On occasion, she did confide in medical staff and Scottish Women’s Aid.”
The court heard between June 4 and July 13 2021 Miss Barr was admitted to hospital five separate times with “blunt force injuries”.
These included rib fractures, bruising and swelling.
Miss Barr claimed they happened due to “accidental falls” but later told medics Melville was responsible.
Melville ‘set about’ victim
On October 3, Miss Barr returned to hospital begging: “You need to admit me.”
She had a swollen eye and hair missing.
She again said Melville had done it but then left hospital against medical advice.
Days later, she told a neighbour Melville had “set about her”.
Melville was removed from the flat by police but his partner insisted she had been hurt by falling.
She turned up at hospital on October 11 with “differing accounts” of what happened to her, including that she had been assaulted by her partner.
Mr Anderson told the court: “Melville accepts that he acted towards Miss Barr in the manner she described in these previous occasions.”
‘Growling and snarling noises’
Despite the refuge accommodation, Yvonne returned to her own home in Aboyne Avenue and remained in contact with Melville.
On the morning of the murder, the thug returned there.
Mr Anderson said at around 2am, a neighbour heard “a significant disturbance” in the flat.
The advocate depute said: “The neighbour barely heard Miss Barr.
“However, he did hear her shout out in pain on a couple of occasions.
“Melville was heard making what was described as growling and snarling noises before several thumps were heard coming from the bedroom.”
At 3.26am, Miss Barr sent three text blank messages to the phone of a Scottish Women’s Aid worker.
However, the person was not on shift at the time and the mobile was off.
The court heard Women’s Aid would recommend a female in danger contact the emergency services directly.
Skull fracture and brain damage
At 5.48am, Melville himself dialled 999, claiming he had found Miss Barr at the bottom of the bed and unresponsive.
Mr Anderson said: “He stated he did not know what happened to her.”
Paramedics arrived and discovered she had “significant facial and head injuries” including an open wound on the back of her head.
The prosecutor said: “They noted Melville appeared to show no emotion regarding the situation.
“All he said was that he had found her like that.”
Miss Barr was rushed to hospital but did not survive.
She had severe brain damage as well as fractures to the skull, nose, cheekbone, neck, ribs and left thigh.
Clumps of hair had also been ripped out of her head.
‘Savage and murderous’ attack
The court heard Melville claimed not to recall exactly what happened but said he remembered an argument, during which he placed his hands around her neck.
He said he struck “heavy blows” to her head and chest and stood on her legs.
Lord Arthurson said the minimum jail-term for the life sentence would have been 20 years but for the guilty plea.
At the High Court in Glasgow today, Lord Arthurson sentenced Kenneth Melville to life imprisonment for the murder of his partner Yvonne Barr. The punishment part, the minimum time spent in prison before becoming eligible for parole, was set at 17 years https://t.co/BDbnWE7IR5
— Judges Scotland (@JudgesScotland) January 24, 2023
The judge said: “As a result of your savage and murderous attack, Miss Barr sustained unsurvivable brain damage.
“You brutally assaulted a vulnerable person in her own tenancy, punched and kicked her head and body (as well as) inflicting blunt trauma of such severity, she was unable to survive the catastrophic injuries.”
Further information on domestic abuse – and help – can be found on the websites of Police Scotland, Citizens Advice Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid, the NHS and other places.
For the latest court cases across Tayside and Fife, join our Courts Facebook page.
