In July of 2022, a 27-year-old woman in Havant, Hampshire slit the throat of her boyfriend before plunging the blade into his chest 17 times, The Telegraph reports.
In her bedroom, which was decorated with framed photos of serial killers and weapons, Shaye Groves and Frankie Fitzgerald would have sex as they filmed. Both interested in BDSM, they would regularly videotape their sexual counters to imitate rape, despite it being consensual. Groves would later use the footage to claim self defense, but unedited versions refuted her claims.
On the day of Fitzgerald’s death, Groves discovered that her boyfriend had been messaging who she mistakenly thought was a 13-year-old girl on social media. Though the individual had actually been 17, Groves acted out of jealousy and attacked Fitzgerald as he slept. Afterwards, she called a friend via video chat and “giggled” as she revealed the victim’s body.
According to prosecutor Steven Perian, Groves used knowledge obtained from watching crime documentaries to portray herself as a victim of sexual violence. He says that “the defendant, by reading about and watching murder documentaries, she was familiar with crime scenes, how to create a false narrative, and how to set up a false alibi.”
Despite her efforts, Groves was found guilty to murder following a trial. The 27-year-old has been sentenced to 23 years in prison.
