A 27-year-old man has admitted murdering Dundee woman Katy Rourke.
Gary Stevenson confessed to police that he killed 25-year-old fashion buyer Katy and told them: “I stabbed her. I think it was three times.”
He told officers: “If it wasn’t her, it would be someone else. I just want to tell the truth for the sake of the family.”
Stevenson also admitted hitting her repeatedly before the knife attack, saying: “I lost control. We had a disagreement. I started to hit her and I didn’t stop. I just kept going.”
The High Court in Glasgow was told that Katy, from Broughty Ferry, rented a room in the Govan flat where hospital laboratory assistant Stevenson was a tenant. She had found the flatshare on Gumtree.
Her friends last heard from her when she texted at 1.20am on December 29. They became worried when she failed to turn up for work in the morning.
A search was made of the flat and Katy’s naked body was found in her bedroom. She was dead and had two slash wounds and a smaller puncture wound to her lower back.
A large kitchen-type knife was lying on the bed beside the former cruise ship worker’s body.
Stevenson said he lost control after she refused to have sex with him.
He left the flat with Katy’s dead body inside by shimmying down a drainpipe.
He made his way to North Berwick, where he attemped to commit suicide and was taken into police custody.
Stevenson admitted murdering 25-year-old Katy between December 29 and 30, last year, at a flat in Minto Street, Govan, Glasgow, by asking her for sex and when she refused repeatedly punching her on the face, seizing her by the throat and repeatedly stabbing her and slashing her on the body with a knife.
Judge Lady Rae deferred sentence on Stevenson until next month for background reports.
Detective Inspector Margaret-Ann May, Senior Investigating Officer on this case, said: “Firstly, I would like to convey my sincere condolences to the Rourke family. What they have endured over the last five months is incomprehensible, and I must thank them for their strength and courage during this very difficult time.
“This was a very distressing case culminating in the death of a bright, popular young woman with her whole life ahead of her.”
“A diligent and through investigation by the Major Investigation Team lead to Gary Stevenson admitting his guilt today, and I am glad that this has spared the family the trauma of a trial.”
“My thoughts are with the family.”For more, see Tuesday’s Courier.