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Young women Alicia Davis from Aylesham and Charlotte Coulson from Dover guilty of murdering DJ Michael Kerr in Capel-Le-Ferne

Two women who slashed a vulnerable DJ's throat and then concocted a rape story to try and get away with murder have been jailed for life today.

Alicia Davis and Charlotte Coulson, both 22, killed 30-year-old Michael Kerr in his car before dumping his body in a remote lane in Capel-Le-Ferne.

Davis had sex with Mr Kerr for £20 drink money a few hours before and regretted it so much she agreed to kill him, the Old Bailey heard.

Alicia Davis and Charlotte Coulson were found guilty of murdering Michael Kerr
Alicia Davis and Charlotte Coulson were found guilty of murdering Michael Kerr

She and Coulson, who had pimped her friend to Mr Kerr, lured him back to their home before getting him to drive them to a remote spot for sex.

The two women texted each other during the journey, egging each other on to start the attack which would end his life.

In her last text Coulson said to Davis: "Shut up n hurry up let's party."

Mr Kerr was left lying dead next to his car as the two women walked home.

Davis messaged Coulson after the murder saying: "I feel so sick, I love you."

They both claimed Mr Kerr tried to rape Davis, but the court heard it was a "wicked story to exonerate themselves".

Budding DJ Michael Kerr was found dead in Capel-Le-Ferne
Budding DJ Michael Kerr was found dead in Capel-Le-Ferne

Both Coulson, Clarendon Street, Dover, and Davis, of Milner Crescent, Aylesham, burst into tears as an Old Bailey jury found them guilty by unanimous verdict.

Judge Paul Worsley QC said the pair had taken "perverse pleasure" in killing Mr Kerr as he jailed them both for life.

Davis was jailed for a minimum of 25 years and Coulson was ordered to serve at least 20 years.

"Rather than remorse or shock, you felt some perverse pleasure in watching him die and were heard laughing as you travelled home along the road..." - Judge Paul Worsley

He said: "You both set upon him, at the very least Coulson punched him and pulled his hair as he sat in front of you. Davis slashed his throat - he was an easy victim.

"He inflicted no injuries on either of you and had defence wounds from trying to protect himself from the repeated slashing and stabbing.

"Rather than remorse or shock, you felt some perverse pleasure in watching him die and were heard laughing as you travelled home along the road.

"Neither of you have shown any remorse, your only desire was to save your own skins."

Judge Worsley said he "totally rejected" the claim Mr Kerr had raped Davis and said the pair both lied extensively to the police.

Mr Kerr, a former pupil of Harbour School, Dover, was born with a chromosomal condition known as Fragile Syndrome, which meant he had learning difficulties, spoke with a stammer and had a limp.

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Police officers in Satmar Lane, where Michael Kerr was found dead
Police officers in Satmar Lane, where Michael Kerr was found dead

He lived with his grandparents at King's Ropewalk, Aycliffe, Dover.

He got to know Davis and Coulson who had been living together at Clarendon Street, Dover.

Both women had pulled out the knives and set upon the helpless victim.

He suffered a total of 21 separate injuries, including 11 wounds to the throat.

One wound was struck with such force that it damaged the muscles at the back of his neck.

His parents, Pat and Jim, bravely sat through every moment of the trial and wiped away tears as they heard how their vulnerable son's body was found lying in the dirt next to his gold Renault Clio the following day.

Michael Kerr was found dead in Capel-le-Ferne
Michael Kerr was found dead in Capel-le-Ferne

Two of his teeth were found intact under his body. They had been smashed from his jaw with a blow of "severe force".

Mr Kerr's eyes were partially open, his trousers were partially down and his buttocks were covered in dirt and grime.

Coulson had tried to drive off, but panicked and succeeded only in wheel spinning the car in the damp earth.

The two women walked home where they washed and showered her clothes.

Alicia Davis, left, and Charlotte Coulson are accused of murder
Alicia Davis, left, and Charlotte Coulson are accused of murder

Coulson also tried to burn her bloodstained favourite grey hoodie on a bonfire in the garden.

Davis admitted causing Mr Kerr's horrific injuries, but claimed it was because he forced himself on her in his car while Coulson was asleep in the back.

She confessed to slashing him with the knife but told police said it was only to get him off her.

But it then emerged Coulson had texted Mr Kerr hours after she knew he was dead in a desperate bid to establish an alibi.

The incident happened at around 2.25am but the last message came from Coulson at 5.47am in which she told him she could not sleep.

Forensic officers in Satmar Lane, where Michael Kerr was found dead
Forensic officers in Satmar Lane, where Michael Kerr was found dead

Both women declined to give evidence in court.

Paul Bogan, defending Davis, admitted that she had carried out the "sustained, unrelenting and particularly violent" attack.

He told the jury that she is currently in psychiatric care and was abused by her father when she was 11.

Michael Kerr was murdered in his Renault Clio
Michael Kerr was murdered in his Renault Clio
Police searched drains in a bid to find the murder weapon
Police searched drains in a bid to find the murder weapon
Knives found hidden down a drain by Michael Kerr's killers
Knives found hidden down a drain by Michael Kerr's killers

Speaking after the verdict, DCI Paul Fotheringham, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "This was a violent and vicious attack in which Michael didn't stand a chance.

"He was used to giving his friends a lift to places – he was a nice person and loved driving his car.

"But what he didn't know that night was Coulson and Davis were luring him to his death. Text messages show they were planning their sustained attack right up until they arrived in Satmar Lane.

"Michael sustained fatal injuries that night. He was left to die on his own in a country lane as Davis and Coulson fled scene, discarding his mobile phone and secreting the weapon as they made their way home to eventually destroy their clothes.

"There are around 200 storm drains on the route they took home and we searched all of them – finding knives in drain number 89 which we believe were used in Michael's murder."

Video: Police at the scene of Michael Kerr's murder

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