Man Allegedly Killed Partner’s Ex with Samurai Sword, Court Hears

Michael Bretton is accused of murdering Craig Hurcombe with a samurai sword in a premeditated attack, following a dispute over a woman who had ended a casual relationship with Bretton to reunite with Hurcombe.

Man accused of killing partner's former lover with sword

Craig Hurcombe was described as a "perfect son" by his parents.

A man accused of murdering his partner's former lover allegedly carried out the killing in a "cold-blooded execution" using a samurai sword, a court was told.

Michael Bretton, 41, from Dorset, faces charges of murdering Craig Hurcombe from Devizes, Wiltshire, and one count of stalking involving fear of violence against a woman. Bretton denies all charges.

A jury at Bristol Crown Court heard that Bretton had been involved in a casual relationship which he sought to formalise. However, the woman rejected this and resumed a previous relationship with Hurcombe.

"It was a pre-meditated and cold-blooded execution, carried out with the use of a sword," said prosecutor Mark Cotter KC, describing Hurcombe's killing at his workplace in Somerset.

Background and relationship details

The court was informed that Hurcombe, a 39-year-old lorry driver, had been in a relationship with Kate Saunders before Bretton. That relationship ended in 2023.

Saunders and Bretton met through an online dating site two years later and maintained a casual relationship. Bretton wished to formalise their relationship as "boyfriend and girlfriend," but Saunders declined and ceased contact, later rekindling her relationship with Hurcombe.

It is alleged that Bretton then began stalking both Saunders and Hurcombe, including fitting trackers to their vehicles.

"What is clear from the evidence is that Mr Bretton was obsessed with Kate Saunders and was clearly jealous of her renewed relationship with Craig Hurcombe," Cotter KC said.

Events on New Year's Day and investigation

The jury heard that on the evening of New Year's Day, Hurcombe went to work at Blanchard's yard in the Gurney Slade area of Somerset. CCTV footage from the yard showed him waving at the camera at 18:26 GMT.

Hurcombe was reported missing on 10 January, and his body was discovered in a shallow grave in woodland at his workplace on 14 January.