A London woman has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her boyfriend, who died from injuries sustained during a brutal assault at a hotel in late 2023.
Polly Murphy, of Highgate, was convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court in January 2026 for killing 47-year-old James Self. The attack occurred on November 8, 2023, at the Smugglers Cove hotel in Clacton, where CCTV footage later showed Murphy leaving the scene casually with her luggage.
Self was discovered with severe injuries after Murphy delayed calling emergency services for 18 hours. He remained hospitalized for six weeks before succumbing to his injuries on December 21, 2023.
During the trial, the court heard that Murphy had subjected Self to a prolonged, two-hour assault involving punches, kicks, and stomps. Evidence presented revealed a history of volatile behavior, including previous threats and physical abuse in the months leading to the fatal attack.
On February 5, 2026, Murphy was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years. Judge Christopher Morgan noted the "profound and visceral" grief of Self’s family and described Murphy’s actions as exceptionally violent.
In a victim impact statement, Self’s mother Ashe expressed enduring heartbreak and thanked investigators for pursuing justice. Essex Police reiterated that domestic abuse affects all genders and encouraged anyone in need to seek support.
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