Megan Newborough was brutally killed by her partner, Ross McCallum, on August 6, 2021.
The homicide occurred in Coalville City, Leicestershire, in the living room of his residence, where he strangled her and then slashed her throat 14 times with a kitchen knife.
Afterward, McCallum transported her body in his vehicle, dumped it off at Charly Road near Woodhouse Eaves, and concealed it. Nonetheless, thanks to the investigative work of the local police, the location of the body was discovered.
At the crown court hearing, unsurprisingly, Ross Mcallam admitted to manslaughter instead of murder, despite denying that he killed Megan, with whom he worked and had been in a relationship for some time.
Prior to her disappearance, Newborough had arranged to meet McCullam at his residence in Windsor Close, Coalville, Leicestershire. Little did anyone know it would be their final encounter.
McCullam’s parents were there to greet the girl that day and witnessed firsthand the conversation taking place between their son and his girlfriend. Newborough told her own parents she was going for a walk with a colleague and promised to return home on time.
When Newborough ceased responding to calls or messages, panic engulfed both families as their worst fears began to surface. Megan Newborough was reported missing mid-Saturday morning by her father, Anthony.
Upon investigating her whereabouts, her brother used an app to locate her phone on Heritage Road in Coalville. However, police visited the area, but it appeared Mr.
McCullam had discarded it. He was reportedly drinking at a bar in Loughborough when his father went to retrieve him and bring him home, where he would soon be arrested.
To further complicate matters, Elaine sent her daughter an alarming text, inquiring, “Are you alive?” – underscoring how disquieting Ms. Newborough’s disappearance was.
Megan’s Partner – The Perpetrator
After a jury foundConnor McCollam guilty of murdering Megan in August 2020, the Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson decided to refer the case to the Court of Appeal
The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 7, presenting an opportunity for further justice for Megan’s family from Nuneaton
. Justifying his reasons for sending the case to appeal, Tomlinson referred to evidence presented during the trial about McCollam’s traumatic childhood experiences and consequent Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome he suffered – understandably, experts testified on how this could have led to Megan’s violent death.
While there is no doubt that justice must be served for this heart-breaking case, we can hope it would also provide closure and give strength to those affected by her premature death.
Judge Philip Head addressed McCullam: “It was her tragic misfortune to become involved in a relationship with you.”
During the hearing, Megan’s older sister, Claire, gave a victim impact statement. She said: “You are an unpredictable menace and a danger to women, and you appear to crave some notoriety. Megan always thought she could fix people – but selecting evil isn’t possible.
Furthermore, she said, “I hope that she haunts you forever. Megan’s loss is so profound, words can’t describe the emptiness we feel. Megan was a sensitive soul and all she ever wanted was to be loved.”
The Jury
After reviewing surveillance footage of Mr. McCullam leaving the scene in a taxi, police analyzed his mobile phone, gaining a deep understanding of his online activity and state of mind just before the incident.
Surprisingly, the defendant had searched topics related to some of Britain’s most notorious criminals, such as Levi Bellfield, Peter Sutcliffe, and Ian Huntley. This disturbing development calls into question whether this was premeditated or simply a tragic coincidence.
The court proceedings had been especially revealing and full of evidence, as they were able to cross-reference some of the activities that Mr. McCullam had been engaged in before he had committed the crime.
These activities included discarding a cell phone into roadside bushes and continuing to text the deceased in an attempt to lay a false trail.
Additionally, three hours after committing the murder, he left her a voicemail professing his affection for her – a stark contrast to his actual actions.
Mr. Cammegh commented that this was contrived fakery for the ears of law enforcement, which seemed to suggest Mr. McCullam’s level of premeditation over what would later come out in court
Furthermore, it was revealed to the court that he was also browsing p*rnography websites prior to committing his heinous act.
