Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Wednesday 26th March 2025, at 19:30hrs
Kain Tailby, 31, has been found guilty of murder after fatally assaulting his partner, Christine Everett-Hickson, 21, on their first anniversary.
The verdict was delivered at Derby Crown Court on Tuesday, following a harrowing trial that revealed the brutal circumstances of Chrissie’s death.
The tragic incident unfolded on February 17, 2024, at the couple’s flat in Greenhill Lane, Riddings. After returning from an anniversary night out, an argument escalated violently.
Tailby admitted to “pushing and shoving” but the prosecution presented evidence that he had pinned Chrissie to the ground and repeatedly slammed her head against the kitchen floor.
A neighbour’s testimony revealed the horrifying reality of the assault, with accounts of loud, repeated bangs followed by an unsettling silence.
Shortly after, Tailby placed a 999 call, attempting to downplay his actions and falsely claiming Chrissie had injured herself in the bath. He described her bleeding from the ear and said he was cleaning the blood.
Paramedics rushed Chrissie to the hospital, where doctors discovered she had suffered multiple skull fractures and a severe traumatic brain injury.
Despite their efforts, she died five days later.
During police interviews, Tailby offered inconsistent accounts of the night’s events.
While expressing remorse, he failed to provide a credible explanation for the extreme violence he inflicted.
He admitted to manslaughter but denied intending to kill Chrissie. The jury, however, rejected his claim, finding him guilty of murder.
Detective Constable Jonathan Reeves, who worked on the case, expressed the profound tragedy of the situation.
“What should have been a celebratory evening for a young couple turned into tragedy when Tailby, by his own admission, overreacted enormously to what had been a minor dispute between the pair,” he stated.
“He must have known that the force with which he assaulted Chrissie on that night could cause her serious injury or worse – yet he still chose to behave in this way for reasons only he knows.”
The detective conveyed his condolences to Chrissie’s family, emphasizing the devastating loss they endured.
He also highlighted the importance of seeking help for domestic abuse victims, urging anyone experiencing or witnessing abuse to come forward.
Tailby is scheduled to be sentenced at Derby Crown Court on Friday, March 28th.
G2K INCIDENT WATCH 