Jason Flore, 26, stabbed his partner, 19-year-old mother Stephanie Marie, last August at Crawley train station.
He stabbed her in the chest with a 20cm-long knife, puncturing her heart and killing her.
Throughout the trial, Flore denied killing Ms Marie, claiming he was not present at the time of the killing and accusing two other people instead.
The scene of the murder (Image: Sussex News and Pictures) But a jury at Hove Crown Court found Flore guilty of the murder, after they were presented with witness statements and incriminating CCTV footage from the morning of August 18.
Jurors were told how witnesses heard Flore and Ms Marie arguing in the moments before the attack just after 7am.
A commuter on the station footbridge said she saw the couple arguing and described Stephanie Marie as upset and said that Flore was being aggressive towards her.
Stephanie Marie and Jason Flore, both originally from Mauritius, had been living in a makeshift tent camp at the disused station car park.
The court heard how CCTV cameras had also captured Flore discarding heavily bloodstained tracksuit bottoms.
Shortly after the murder, Flore spoke to a 999 call handler, the court heard.
Prosecutor Patrick Dennis said: “The defendant called an ambulance at 7.18 am.
“He stated somebody had been stabbed by Crawley train station.
“He said she wasn’t breathing.
“He said he was leaving her, he didn’t want to be there.”
In another call, Mr Flore spoke to police who had arrived at the scene.
Mr Dennis said: “The defendant said he was friends with Stephanie Marie, not her partner. He said she had stabbed herself.”
Mr Dennis described his account as a ’tissue of lies’.
Stephanie Marie had classic defensive wounds, he said.
The court also heard that the knife has never been recovered and that Flore disposed of crucial evidence in the 45 minutes between the incident and his arrest.
After this, he attempted to get on a bus, and was said to have taken off his tracksuit bottoms when he did not have money for the fare.
Police then arrested him after finding him walking towards another train station at Three Bridges. He was stopped near Haslett Avenue East.
Just a few minutes prior, Stephanie sadly was pronounced dead after paramedics tried their best to save her.
Today (Wednesday 19 February) Flore showed no emotion as the jury in Hove gave their unanimous verdict.
His Honour Judge Jeremy Gold KC told Flore: “The only sentence allowed by law is life imprisonment.”
In the wake of her death, Stephanie Marie’s family had described her as “a much-loved daughter, sister and mother”.
“We are devastated that her young life has been ended in this way.
“She had her whole life ahead of her. At school she excelled at sport and loved basketball, football and gymnastics.
“We will miss her so much. Life will never be the same.”
Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Sam Blackburn said: “Stephanie was a young woman with a whole life ahead of her to enjoy, but had it stolen away by a controlling and coercive partner.
“She was a much loved daughter, sister, and mother who enjoyed sports, music – especially playing guitar, and had ambitions to be a hairdresser.
“This outcome is the result of countless hours of investigation and I thank everyone who has contributed to ensuring Stephanie’s killer has been held accountable for what he did today. It is important that we remember her name today instead of his.”
“While todays’ verdict will never replace the tragic loss felt by those who loved Stephanie, it has ensured that justice has been served. I hope this outcome helps them find some peace after such a devastating loss.”
Flore is to be sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Thursday.
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