Dancer, 22, repeatedly stabbed in chest by controlling boyfriend in murder-suicide when she went to break up with him
A DANCER was repeatedly stabbed in the chest by her "jealous" older boyfriend when she went to break up with him, an inquest heard.
Maddie Durdant-Hollamby, 22, was murdered by her controlling partner Ben Green, 41, within 10 minutes of arriving at his home in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
Medics found the "beautiful" and "talented" dancer from Wimblington, Cambridgeshire, dead in an upstairs bedroom with her phone beside her.
Green had furiously stabbed her in the chest three times with such force that the blade broke in the wound - soon after going downstairs, he killed himself, the inquest heard.
Maddie had gone over to the modern detached home on Slate Drive to end her relationship with Green in August last year, the court heard.
They had been dating for about a year, but Maddie's friends described Green as "jealous" and "controlling".
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The marketing director was angered after Maddie decided to go on holiday with her parents without him and he would regularly check messages on her phone.
On one occasion, the couple fought for days when Maddie commented that a contestant on Love Island was attractive.
Maddie's friend told the court: "I thought he was quite controlling. But he made Maddie happy."
The conclusion of the murder-suicide today moved senior Northamptonshire coroner Anne Pember so much she had to pause.
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She said to Maddie's family: "In my 27 years as coroner I think this is the saddest case I’ve ever heard.
"I can’t imagine your pain at the loss of your daughter. I am truly sorry for your loss."
The inquest heard how Maddie had been anxious ahead of the break-up, which she had decided to deliver in person out of respect rather than over text.
She had told her friends she thought her and her boyfriend were on different paths before resolving to call things off.
On the day of her death, Maddie messaged friends from work at 3.35pm, saying "I’m so nervous".
Chillingly, at 5.51pm she instructed her pals to phone her an hour later if they hadn't heard from her, the inquest heard.
The last message she sent to her friendship trio a minute later read: "Love You XX."
When friends tried and failed to get hold of both Maddie and then Green, they desperately contacted the dancer's mother.
Officers who were called to the house the next morning found both dead at the scene - Green in a pool of blood in the kitchen and Maddie upstairs on the bed.
Emergency services could not save either of their lives.
Maddie's mum Rachel Durdant-Hollamby told the court of her heartbreak.
She said in a statement read aloud: "Maddie was incredibly generous and enjoyed nothing better than spoiling her family and friends.
"I feel as though our lives have been destroyed, ripped apart. I can’t quite see a way forward.
"There is a huge hole in our lives, I want to be a family of four again. She was just perfect."
She said she felt robbed of helping Maddie choose her wedding dress, of picking out furniture with her for her house, and of kissing her babies.
Rachel added: "I just miss her. There’s a huge hole in our lives where Maddie should be. She was just perfect and loving. We want her back.
"We were best friends. She’ll always be my best friend. My heart is broken."
The grieving mum said she hadn't noticed any abusive behaviour in the relationship, since Maddie first met Green at her father's work Christmas party in 2019.
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Green's own friends and relatives were shocked at the result of the inquest, with his former wife saying "He wouldn't hurt a fly" and his brother adding, "Ben is not violent".
Following Maddie’s death, a separate inquest took place into the death of Mr Green in which the coroner concluded that he took his own life.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
