A man has pleaded guilty to murdering a “beautiful caring” university lecturer in Plymouth.
Paul Antony Butler, 53, admitted murdering Claire Chick, 48, during an incident in the city in January which sparked a national manhunt and ended with Butler’s arrest 20 miles away.
He also pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a bladed article during a hearing at Plymouth Crown Court on Tuesday.
Butler, of Stangray Avenue, Plymouth, spoke only to confirm his name and enter his pleas. The defendant, who appeared on video link from prison, appeared to wipe a tear away from his face as he entered his pleas.
Ms Chick, who was previously known as Claire Butler, worked as a lecturer at the University of Plymouth. She was associate head of school for international in the university’s school of nursing and midwifery.
She was found seriously injured in a street called West Hoe Road on 22 January, and was taken to hospital where she died in the early hours of the next morning.
In a statement previously released by police, her family said: “We are absolutely devastated and broken at the loss of our beautiful caring mother Claire Chick. She was the most beautiful lively soul and was there for everyone.
“Everyone who knew our mum had so much positive words to say about her. She was the life and soul of any place where she was.”
Colleagues also paid tribute to the lecturer after her death.
Vice-chancellor Professor Richard Davies said: “We have been shocked and saddened by the death of a much-loved member of our university community.
“Having spoken with Claire’s colleagues, I know that her contribution to Plymouth was significant and deeply felt – she was a respected nurse, lecturer, and personal tutor, ensuring students were supported academically and pastorally.”
Devon and Cornwall Police referred the attack to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because of “previous contact with the victim”.
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