John Broadhurst leaves Birmingham Crown Court after going on trial for the murder of 26-year-old Natalie Andrews
A woman allegedly murdered by a millionaire property tycoon during an S&M sex session would call him ‘boss’ and began wearing less revealing clothes to hide strangulation marks, a court heard.
A millionaire property tycoon accused of murdering his partner during an S&M session would regularly enjoy ‘rough sex’ with her and smacking her bottom with a belt, a court heard.
John Broadhurst, 40, is accused of murdering Natalie Connolly, 26, at their home in Kinver, West Midlands, in the early hours of December 18, 2016.
The mum-of-one was found naked except for a skirt rolled up to her waist at the foot of the staircase in a pool of blood having suffered over 40 injuries.
Broadhurst allegedly battered her to death following a drug and booze-fuelled sadomasochistic sex session.
Friends of Natalie’s told the jury how she had started dressing differently after she started going out with the defendant.
A court heard he may have attacked Natalie to ‘teach her a lesson’ after discovering she had been messaging other men behind his back – sending one topless photos.
Another friend revealed he received photos of Natalie in her underwear ‘exposing her body parts’ while she was going out with Broadhurst.
He also said he received a ‘mirror selfie’ picture of her just two days before her death.
In a witness statement read to the court, Robert Elliott said: ‘In August 2014 I met a girl called Natalie who worked as a receptionist at the company where I worked.
‘Most of the men would have thought she was a very attractive girl. She liked Northern Soul and Elvis Presley. We were getting on well with each other as I had similar tastes in music.
‘We started having a drink in the pub – it became twice a week. It was one drink and a chat. We had not had any sexual contact or anything.
‘I was aware she was in a relationship. ‘In March 2015 I visited Natalie at her home address. We did have sexual contact.
John Broadhurst, 40, is accused of murdering Natalie Connolly (pictured{, 26, after ‘totally losing it’
‘I left the company in August 2015. Natalie was disappointed in me leaving. I kept in touch with Natalie by text.
‘In early summer 2016 I visited her at a new house in Kidderminster. We had no sexual contact.
‘During her relationship with John I did receive photos of Natalie in her underwear exposing her body parts. The last time I spoke with Natalie was December 16, 2016.
‘I texted to see how she was doing and she phoned me. She told me she was minding her Ps and Qs and no longer dressing with her t*** hanging out.
‘She sent me a mirror selfie. I replied “what are you trying to do to me?”. I found out she had died later that weekend. She did refer to role play with me but not rough or kinky sex or anything like that.’
Broadhurst is currently on trial at Birmingham Crown Court where he denies murder and causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent.
Today it emerged the couple first started an affair while Broadhurst was in a relationship with another woman.
Natalie’s twin sister Gemma Andrews, 26, gave evidence and told the jury how the couple had been ‘smitten’ together.
She also recalled the moment she received a phone call from her mother to inform her that her sister had died.
Tearfully giving evidence, she said: ‘That sent me into total shock. I was aware John Broadhurst had been arrested.
‘She was very open with me about her relationships with men. We were twin sisters. I was born two minutes before her.
‘June or July 2016 is when they started their relationship. They first started texting each other.
‘Natalie used to go on business meetings to meet John Broadhurst – sometimes in Manchester, sometimes Scotland.
‘I was aware he was still in another relationship at the time. Natalie and John were keeping their relationship quiet.
‘He told his partner at some stage he had found someone else.
‘Natalie was really happy with John Broadhurst. He seemed smitten with her.
‘I knew he was a successful businessman and I knew their relationship became a sexual one.
Gemma Andrews, twin sister of Natalie Connolly, pictured outside Birmingham Crown Court today after giving evidence
‘Natalie told me he was good in bed, and he liked to have rough sex.
‘The rough sex was routine and would include John Broadhurst smacking her bottom with a belt.
‘She showed me belt marks on her bottom and grab marks on her arm.
‘I was shocked by that.
‘I knew that with one previous boyfriend she had had rough sex, though not to that extent.
‘He gave her £200 a week for living expenses.
‘I was aware John and Natalie would use cocaine every now and then – they didn’t depend on it.’
The court heard a 999 call made by Broadhurst in the morning of December 18, 2016, in which he said: ‘I think she’s probably dead.
‘I woke up this morning, went downstairs. We had been drinking.
‘She’s lying on the floor.’
He repeatedly exclaimed ‘Oh my God’ as he tried to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on her.
He later told his mother Elaine Broadhurst ‘please tell me this is a dream’ before he was arrested at his house.
A witness statement from his mother read the court said: ‘I would describe John and Natalie’s relationship as really good.
‘I had not seen any problem between them at all.
‘I would say this is the happiest I have seen him for a couple of years.
‘On December 18 at 9.31am I received a call from my son.
‘He said ‘mum, mum – she’s dead. Natalie’s dead. Can you get over here? I have rung an ambulance’.
‘I asked ‘has she had a fit’. He said ‘I don’t know, just get here quickly’.
‘The reason I asked about the fit was because she had chronic asthma and I thought she may have had an asthma attack.
A GV of the house of millionaire John Broadhurst,40, who is accused of murdering Natalie Connolly, 26, in a crazed sex session
‘When we got to the house, there was a police car and a paramedic there.
‘I went to the door and was told I couldn’t come in.
‘I went onto the grass and spoke to him through the window.
‘He said ‘we had a great day yesterday. We went to the football, had a curry, had a good drink.
‘We were up until 3am. She went to bed as she wasn’t feeling well.
‘When I got up she was dead on the floor.
‘Please tell me this is a dream. How much more have I got to put up with?’.
The court heard the pair had consumed a large amount of alcohol as well as two grams of cocaine before engaging in a violent sex session the night before.
Natalie suffered blunt-force injuries to her head, buttocks and breasts.
Post-mortem analysis found she died from her injuries in conjunction with alcohol intoxication. She was found to be more than five times the drink-drive limit.
Broadhurst, of Wolverley, Worcs., denies murdering Natalie and claims he only hurt her ‘within the boundaries of her masochistic desires.’
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