Murderer held 'accountable' for brutal attack on woman 13 years ago

A man who pleaded guilty to the murder of a woman who died 13 years after he attacked her has been sentenced.

Trevor Baker, 53 (25.02.71) of HMP Warren Hill, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, 31 May where he was sentenced to serve a minimum of 20 years' imprisonment for Carolyn Kemp's murder. This will be less the time served since his sentencing for attempted murder in 2010, meaning that Baker will serve a further five years and eight months in prison.

Baker, who has been serving a sentence for the attempted murder of Carolyn Kemp, pleaded guilty to murder after she died from her injuries nearly 13 years later.

Carolyn Kemp was 34 at the time of the original incident where Baker brutally attacked her at his address on Walmer Close in Romford on 25 November 2009.

Carolyn had left Baker six months before when their relationship deteriorated but Baker, enraged and unable to accept the relationship was over, launched a ferocious attack that left Carolyn a quadriplegic with an irreparable brain injury. He subsequently pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment, to serve a minimum of eight years.

Sadly, on 24 September 2022 Carolyn died from aspiration pneumonia. A forensic post-mortem examination was conducted at Queens Hospital in Romford two days later.

Specialist pathologists concluded that if Carolyn had not suffered the traumatic brain injuries in 2009, she would have survived the aspiration pneumonia - this being the causal link between the injuries inflicted by Baker and Carolyn’s death.

Baker was charged with murder on 5 December 2023. He appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, 22 March where he entered a guilty plea.

Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Carolyn suffered extreme violence at the hands of Trevor Baker - violence that ultimately resulted in her death following more than a decade of suffering.

“It is right that he be held accountable for the devastation his actions caused, not only to Carolyn, but to her family and friends who loved her.

“I am pleased that due to the guilty plea, Carolyn’s loved ones will now be spared the further distress of going through a trial and reliving the details of what was a horrific attack. My thoughts are with them.“

Speaking on behalf of the family, Carolyn's mother said: "My beautiful daughter Carolyn was the sweetest little girl any mother could have. Growing up she always had a smile on her face, which made you smile and all those around her.

"Following the births of her two children she blossomed into a wonderful young mother. There was nothing she would not do for them, she loved being their mum so very much. That opportunity to love and nurture them was taken away from her and from her children.

"As her mother and their grandmother it is difficult to find adequate words to truly describe the loss we felt as a family when she was brutally attacked all those years ago and continued to feel over the years and since, before losing her for what felt like a second time when she sadly passed away.

"We as a family will never get over what happened to Carolyn. She never deserved to go through such an awful ordeal which consequently spanned a further almost 13 years of pain and suffering before her death.

“We wish to acknowledge the swift action of the medical officer at Queens hospital who immediately alerted police to Carolyn’s death and concerns he believed there was a causal link between the assault on her in 2009 and her death. This enabled the Metropolitan Police to commence an investigation which has led to his conviction.

"We cannot thank the team enough for all that they have done in getting justice for Carolyn. We would also like to extend a special thank you to our Family Liaison Officer Detective Constable Saggers - without her support we could not have got through this.

"Trevor Baker, will never know how much he put my family through. His actions ruined the lives of two innocent children for evermore. Following today’s sentencing he will serve a further five years and eight months in prison. It will never be enough.

"Despite the years that have passed we still believe that Trevor Baker is a violent individual and a continued danger to women. I hope that with this conviction and sentence it serves to protect other women in the future."

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