Her bags were packed ready to leave him, so he murdered her

Olivia Wood was murdered by Kieron Goodwin

A man murdered his girlfriend on the night she intended to end their relationship. Kieron Goodwin fatally strangled Olivia Wood, 29, with who he had been in a relationship for less than three months.

This followed a pattern of physical and psychological abuse where Goodwin threatened self-harm, causing Olivia to take time off work. WhatsApp messages revealed that he also tried to coerce her into having sex with another man, despite her repeated refusals.

She also transferred over £6,000 to him to assist with his bills, which he ultimately used on cocaine. At 2.50am on Tuesday 30 July 2024, Goodwin made a 999 call reporting that Olivia was not breathing, leading to her hospitalisation.

Police were alerted ten minutes after paramedics arrived at his flat due to concerns about Olivia's injuries. Goodwin was initially arrested on suspicion of intentional strangulation later that day.

Tragically, Olivia died shortly afterwards with her family by her side, leading to Goodwin's further arrest on suspicion of murder. During the police investigation, a packed suitcase and bags filled with Olivia's clothes and toiletries were discovered, suggesting she was planning to leave.

Two days following his arrest, detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team charged Goodwin with Olivia's murder.

He also faced charges of controlling and coercive behaviour. While he pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour, he denied the charge of murder.

But Goodwin, of Frome, Somerset was found guilty by a jury at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday (April 24) after a five-week trial.

He was also convicted of 15 other offences committed against Olivia and three other women over a five-year period.

'She has been taken from us'

Paying tribute to Olivia, her family said: "The pain our family is feeling is indescribable. Olivia was the glue that held us together, a loyal friend, a devoted sister, a cherished daughter.

"She was a rarity; profoundly selfless, disarmingly witty, a timeless beauty. Always there to make a cup of tea when someone looked in need, to listen, to help.

"Now she has been taken from us and we are left with a chasm in our lives, a love that can never be replaced."

The Crown Prosecution Service also authorised the following charges for offences Goodwin committed against the three other victims:

Four counts of rape, five counts of causing person to engage in sexual activity without consent, one count of sexual assault by penetration, one count of intentional strangulation and three counts of controlling and coercive behaviour.

The court heard Goodwin would ply the victims with drugs; threaten to send compromising photos to friends, family or work colleagues and report them to the police.

He also made them hand over tens of thousands of pounds which he used to fund his cocaine habit and lifestyle while also threatening to harm himself if anyone rejected him in any way.

Goodwin admitted controlling and coercive behaviour against each of the victims, but denied the other offences, claiming they had consented to the sexual activity.

However, he was found guilty by the jury of all the offences against all four victims and will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court in due course.

'He is an incredibly dangerous man'

Det Supt Lorett Spierenburg, the senior investigating officer, said: "Kieron Goodwin is an incredibly dangerous and manipulative man who will now face justice for the horrendous crimes he subjected these women to.

"His offending has had a significant impact on each of them and ultimately – and tragically – had fatal consequences for Olivia.

"Each of those women who have spoken so bravely about what they suffered at his hands deserves enormous praise. Not only has it meant he will now be accountable for his crimes, but it will also ensure no other woman will suffer at his hands.

"I also want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Olivia's family and friends who have acted with such dignity, despite Goodwin's cowardice in refusing to admit his crimes and provide them with the answers they deserve about what happened that night."

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