A man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Leanne Williams, 47, whose body was found in a disorganized flat in Swansea. The victim suffered severe injuries, including a fractured skull, in what was described as a frightening and sustained assault.
Matthew Battenbough, 34, admitted to the murder and received a minimum sentence of 20 years and 114 days at Swansea Crown Court. During the trial, it was revealed that Leanne Williams lived alone and struggled with substance abuse, making her vulnerable to exploitation.
The court heard that Battenbough and Miss Williams were acquainted from encounters in Swansea city center. On the day of the incident, they were seen together before returning to Leanne’s flat where the fatal attack occurred.
After the murder, Battenbough was observed leaving and returning to the flat multiple times. It was not until several days later that the body was discovered by a friend of Miss Williams, leading to Battenbough’s arrest.
Evidence presented in court included DNA matches of Battenbough on items near the victim’s body and signs of a violent assault. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head.
Although Battenbough expressed no remorse during the sentencing, he was advised that he must serve the stipulated minimum term before being considered for parole, subject to evaluation by the Parole Board.