Surrey Police detectives commended for Walton woman Kate Beagley's murder case (From Your Local Guardian)

Surrey Police detectives commended for Walton woman Kate Beagley's murder case

8:40am Thursday 23rd July 2009

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Detectives who investigated the murder of Walton businesswoman Kate Beagley were commended for their “determination and professionalism” at an awards ceremony last week.

Miss Beagley was stabbed 31 times on a bench in Richmond Hill on her first date with fitness instructor Karl Taylor, 27, in May 2007.

He was found guilty of her murder after a trial at the Old Bailey last March and sentenced to at least 30 years in prison.

Five detectives involved in the eight-and-a-half month investigation were awarded a Judge’s and a Chief Constable’s Commendation at Guildford Cathedral.

A further two detectives and police analyst were handed Chief Constable’s Commendations.

During the investigation, Taylor led them to Miss Beagley’s body, which had been dumped in a nature reserve in Hertfordshire.

They later found her car and, following a search of the hard shoulder and verge of the M1, recovered the knife used as a murder weapon, and the victim’s clothing and personal property.

Deputy Chief Constable Craig Denholm, who presented the team with their awards, said: “This challenging enquiry involved three force areas and multiple scenes.

“To secure a conviction whereby the offender received life imprisonment with a minimum tariff to serve of 30 years was testament to the officers’ excellent team work.”

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