A man has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 29 years and six months for the murder of his former lover’s new partner. Michael Bretton, 41, from Shaftesbury, Dorset, was found guilty of killing Craig Hurcombe, 39, in Gurney Slade, Somerset, on January 1. The court heard that Bretton ambushed Hurcombe at his workplace and fatally stabbed him with a samurai sword, causing an injury likened to those in historical battles.
Following the murder, Bretton tried to destroy Hurcombe’s clothes and body before burying him in a shallow grave in a nearby forest. Judge William Hart described Bretton as a dangerous individual with an obsessive personality, criticizing his fabricated claims during the trial. The judge emphasized that Bretton’s actions were motivated by jealousy after Hurcombe rekindled his relationship with a woman Bretton had previously dated.
Bretton stalked Hurcombe, tracking his movements and planning the attack meticulously. Using the cover of darkness and dark clothing for concealment, Bretton carried out the murder at Hurcombe’s workplace. The judge highlighted the brutality of the attack, with Bretton thrusting the sword through Hurcombe’s body, causing a fatal wound reminiscent of ancient battles.
Despite attempts to cover up the crime, Bretton’s fate was sealed when he used his mother’s car, equipped with a tracking system, to dispose of the murder weapon. Police found the sword near a riverbank, corroborating the pathologist’s findings on the cause of Hurcombe’s death. Hurcombe’s body was discovered days after he was reported missing by his mother, who described him as a hard-working and beloved individual.
In a victim impact statement, Hurcombe’s mother and former partner expressed their profound grief and anger towards Bretton, calling him a heartless murderer. Despite his military service and family support, Bretton’s actions were deemed deeply disturbing by law enforcement. Detective Inspector Neil Meade of Avon and Somerset Police emphasized Bretton’s dangerous nature and the calculated planning behind the murder, expressing shock at the extent of his deception and evasion of responsibility.
