"If I Can’t Have Her, No One Can": Jealous Ex Arrested After Brutal Murder of Cheryl Mckenna

Harrowing bodycam footage has captured the moment Christopher Hemming, drenched in blood, was arrested by armed police officers after he savagely murdered his ex-partner, Cheryl Mckenna, in a frenzied knife attack at their shared home in Redditch.

The 47-year-old, described by detectives as a "dangerous and manipulative individual," was sentenced to life in prison at Worcester Crown Court on July 18, after changing his plea to guilty partway through his trial. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years and 117 days before being eligible for parole.

Hemming and Cheryl had been in a long-term relationship since 2010 and were still living together despite separating at the beginning of 2024. According to friends and family, their relationship had been volatile in the final months, with Cheryl seeking independence and starting to rebuild her life.

That process included a new romantic relationship, news that would trigger Hemming's downward spiral. On November 11, 2024, Hemming discovered that Cheryl had moved on, and in a jealous rage, he entered her bedroom and launched a brutal, sustained knife attack.

Cheryl, 44, was stabbed so many times that the blade of the knife snapped, according to forensic investigators. The attack was so violent and prolonged, police later described the crime scene as one of the most disturbing they had ever encountered.

After the murder, Hemming used Cheryl’s phone to call one of her friends, taunting him over what he had just done. He chillingly said:

“I wish the camera worked on this phone so I could show you what I’ve done.”Minutes later, he made a disturbing 999 call to police in which he openly confessed:

“I’ve just killed my ex-partner. I stabbed her to death in the bed.”

When the operator asked why, Hemming offered no remorse, only justification, saying:

“Because she’s been lying and cheating and f*ing other men… I confronted her. She tried to deny it. I’d already seen the evidence. I stabbed and killed her, is the long and the short of it.”

Officers from West Mercia Police arrived swiftly on the scene and found Hemming inside the house, his clothes and hands soaked in blood. Police body-worn camera footage shows the moment he was arrested, handcuffed, and led out of the house. Officers later confirmed he offered no resistance during the arrest and appeared disturbingly calm.

Inside the home, Cheryl’s lifeless body lay on the bed. Paramedics were unable to revive her. A post-mortem examination confirmed she died from multiple stab wounds, primarily to her chest and abdomen.

Initially, Hemming denied the murder and prepared to fight the charges in court. But as the evidence mounted, including his own confessions, the 999 call, the taunting phone conversation, and the bodycam footage, he ultimately changed his plea to guilty during the trial.

At sentencing, Mr. Justice Hill condemned Hemming’s actions as “calculated, vicious, and without justification.” He added that Hemming had shown “a total lack of empathy for the suffering he inflicted on a woman he once claimed to love.”

Police Condemn “Purely Evil” Crime

Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Lougher of West Mercia Police said:

“It was simply a case of ‘if I can’t have her, no one can.’ This was a purely evil crime committed by a man who could not handle rejection or the thought of his ex-partner finding happiness elsewhere.”

“Despite openly confessing to the crime on the day of the murder, Hemming still attempted to manipulate the justice system by entering a not guilty plea. It was only when faced with overwhelming evidence that he finally accepted responsibility.”

DCI Lougher also paid tribute to Cheryl’s family, saying:

“They have shown immense courage and dignity throughout this tragic ordeal. Cheryl was a mother, a daughter, a sister, and an aunt. The pain of losing her in such a horrific way is something no family should ever have to endure.”

Friends and family described Cheryl as a kind-hearted woman who had worked hard to move on with her life following the end of a difficult relationship. She was known for her warm personality and devotion to her loved ones.

In a statement, the family said:

“Cheryl was taken from us in the most violent and heartbreaking way imaginable. She was finally starting to rebuild her life, and it was stolen from her in a moment of senseless brutality. We will never forget her, and we will never forgive what was done.”