Sam Varley texted a friend about Warren Spence before her body was discovered in Leeds. Spence is on trial for murder.
Sam Varley sent her friend a scary text that read, “He’s caught me.” This was days before they found her body. On January 23, Sam told her friend to avoid Warren Spence, with Sam’s text saying Spence “caught me, I’ve got a battering.”
They found Sam’s body on February 12 at her home in Leeds. Warren Spence, age 47, is on trial and is accused of Sam’s murder, but he says he didn’t do it.
The prosecutor spoke on February 18 and stated that Sam was face down in bed and that they saw blood under her head. She also seemed to have injuries on her face. There was hair all around the room.
Police found a hammer there too. Spence’s DNA was on the hair samples, and Sam’s DNA was on the hammer itself. A phone linked to Spence was under her body.
Police arrested Spence a few days later in Scarborough. On February 20, the court reviewed a timeline presented by Matthew Harding, who works for the prosecution and the police.
On February 6, Sam asked for help, saying she was a victim of abuse. She got a new phone and number and talked to Spence and others on that phone.
On February 7, Sam called police at 9:05 a.m. and reported her ex, Warren Spence, who walked past her flat. She wanted to press charges against him. At 9:11 a.m., Spence texted Sam, writing, “You think I’m f** with pigs now ha.” He also told her he was at the police.
Sam got an injunction, he wrote. They called and left voicemails that day. Around 1:38 a.m., Sam walked towards Harehills Lane, captured by CCTV, and texted Spence, “I’m on my way.”
Soon, two people walked towards Brown Hill Lane coming from Harehills Lane. At 6:14 a.m., Sam and a man went to a shop. The man wore a face covering and the police think it was Warren Spence, with the two buying something and leaving.
At 6:36 a.m., both walked toward Brown Hill coming from Hudson Road. Spence’s phone called Sam’s phone several times between 7:02 and 7:04 a.m.. At 7:54 a.m., CCTV showed something.
Spence walked from Brown Hill Lane and went towards Hudson Road. He walked back to Brown Hill Lane at 7:56 a.m.. Later, Spence was seen at Luke O’Connor’s house several times from February 8.
On February 2, Demi Brown texted Sam’s phone at 7:05 p.m. She wrote, “Sam It’s Demi. Are you ok?” Demi hadn’t seen Sam for a few days and no one heard from Sam either. The trial continues.