Mum ‘hacked to death' by boyfriend in gruesome killing that rocked tiny Scots village
STAB HORROR Mum 'hacked to death' by boyfriend in gruesome killing that rocked tiny Scots village
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A MUM was 'hacked' to death by her boyfriend who hit her with a hammer and repeatedly stabbed her after calling her lazy.
Corey Dryden today pled guilty to murdering Meghan Hughes at their home in the tiny Borders village of Chirnside.
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Mum-of-two Meghan Hughes, 31, was "hacked to death" by twisted boyfriend Corey Dryden, 31
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Dryden admitted murdering the woman at the High Court in Edinburgh
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Ms Dryden was attacked with a hammer and stabbed 27 times by Dryden
The 31-year-old was arrested soon after the deadly onslaught and told a police interview: 'I did really love her you know.'
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Dryden stabbed the mother of two 27 times.
Prosecutor Tracey Brown told the court: 'During a mental health assessment which was being carried out by a nurse, the offender was asked how he would manage if he was released.
'He was asked how he would access services if he was released on bail.
'The offender replied, 'with all due respect I'm not getting released' and also said 'that's unlikely cause I'm going to plead guilty 'cos I hacked my girlfriend to death'.'
Dryden admitted murdering Ms Hughes by repeatedly striking her on the head and body with a knife.
The charge also contained details of how he repeatedly struck his partner on the head and body with a hammer during the attack.
The court heard that just after 4.30am on the day of the murder, Dryden phoned 999.
The offender spoke to a police officer during the call and said that his partner had stabbed herself after she had attacked him with a hammer.
Police turned up at their home and found Ms Hughes lying on the floor of an upstairs bedroom.
'Killer' told man he 'tortured to death he was going to s**g his ex'
She had a large kitchen knife in her right hand which was raised above her head.
Ms Brown told the court: 'He said that on the night of the murder they had each drunk approximately a bottle and a half of wine.
"The offender said that was taking pain killers for his leg and that he had also recently had valium that had not been prescribed by a doctor.
'The offender stated that they had been within the bedroom and that the deceased had been wearing a bra and pants.
'He explained that they had argued when he had called her a 'lazy s**t'.
'He claimed that she had swung a hammer at him, which he had blocked with his crutch and that he had disarmed the deceased of the hammer and had struck her on the head with it.
'The offender said that he did not know how many times he had struck the deceased with the hammer.'
Ms Brown also said he made other admissions during the interview.
She added: 'He admitted that he had then stabbed her with a twelve-inch silver kitchen knife and that he had killed her.
'He claimed that he had 'blanked out' for an unknown period of time.
'When asked about what had happened, the offender stated, 'I can't remember anything about it'.
'He then placed his hands over his face and began crying.
"He then stated, 'it was like I was possessed'.
'He then stated, 'I did really love her you know' and then began crying again.'
Lord Harrower deferred sentence to obtain a background report.
He told Dryden: 'You will be remanded in custody.'
Ms Brown told the court that the pair had got together 12 months before he killed Ms Hughes in February but they had known each other since childhood.
The victim, 31, had two children from a previous relationship and the couple started living together in July 2024.
The court also heard how Dryden was fined £300 in December 2024 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on a charge of threatening and abusive behaviour.
On that occasion, Dryden admitted to an incident in a pub close to their home in which he shouted and swore at Ms Hughes and called her a "s**g".
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