Leighann Duffy murder: 'Jealous' suitor admits stabbing
A "jealous" man has admitted breaking into a woman's home and stabbing her in front of a six-year-old child.
Lloyd Byfield, 48, pleaded guilty to the murder of 26-year-old Leighann Duffy at the Old Bailey.
Police said he had pursued a relationship with Ms Duffy before he smashed his way into her flat in Walthamstow, east London, on 1 September last year.
Byfield was remanded in custody to be sentenced on 10 April.
Police said he broke into Ms Duffy's Hatherley Road flat and stabbed her in the arm and neck. She died in hospital two days later.
Byfield had armed himself with a claw hammer and a knife, they said.
'Motivated by jealousy'
A six-year-old child who witnessed the assault suffered minor injures, but did not require hospital treatment.
Byfield was arrested several days later after he told a PCSO on Walthamstow High Street he was wanted by Scotland Yard, police said.
But despite telling the officer "the devil came into his head" and "there was no point in hiding", he initially refused to answer questions from police.
Det Ch Insp Glen Lloyd described the attack as "despicable" and said Byfield had shown "callous and murderous intent".
"Byfield was motivated by jealousy as he had previously wished to pursue a relationship with Duffy," he said.