'My sister was being controlled and used by an evil, manipulative man'

The brother of murdered Sally Cavender says she was a “bright and bubbly” person who was being controlled by an “evil and manipulative” man.

Robert Simpson-Scott was today (Monday, June 24) found guilty of murder of his girlfriend of 15 years, Miss Cavender.

Cambridge Crown Court heard that Simpson-Scott, of Lamb Drove, Cambourne, strangled her before calling paramedics and claiming she was in cardiac arrest.

Simpson-Scott had denied the murder charge but admitted manslaughter in relation to Miss Cavender.

In a statement, Sally’s brother Nick Cavender said: “Sally was a bright and bubbly person but she also lacked self-confidence and battled with alcohol dependency for many years.

“While that led her to make very poor decisions about her lifestyle and choice of partner, she was a very vulnerable person and no-one deserves to have their life ended in the way that hers was.

“Sally was killed just a few days before our mother died. Indeed, Robert was supposed to take Sally to see our mother the day after [he killed her]. Instead of a visit from Sally, my mum had a visit from the police.

“Mum did everything she could to support Sally, and while as a family we wish we could have done more to help her, the reality was she was being controlled and used by an evil, manipulative man who did nothing to help her.

“Those who knew Sally remember her as a lovely girl and now the trial is over, we hope to hold a memorial to remember happier times and we hope that Sally is now at peace.

“We would like to thank the paramedics, police and pathologists, and all involved, in their hard work in investigating her tragic murder.”

Scott-Simpson will be sentenced at The Old Bailey in London on Thursday (June 27).

A statement from Sally’s sister, Suzy Cavender, said: “We are deeply traumatised by Sally’s tragic murder and were too shocked and overwhelmed with grief to be able to attend the trial.

“It is sickening that Robert tried to twist Sally’s murder and it has only added further injury to our shock and pain.

“Those who knew Sally remember her as a lovely girl and we all found out, when it was too late to help her, that she was being conned and controlled by a very evil man for his own gain.”

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