Violent killer Paul Robson to be jailed for life after trial finds him guilty of murdering ex Caroline Kayll and attacking her teenage lover

Paul Robson, 50, has been convicted by a jury of beating to death Northumberland teacher Caroline Kayll at her home in Linton.

He has also been found guilty of repeatedly stabbing a 15-year-old boy after discovering he was in a sexual relationship with his ex-partner.

Newcastle Crown Court was told on the evening of November 15 last year, Robson visited the house he used to share with Caroline, 47.

He overpowered Caroline, knocked her to the floor and repeatedly kicked her in the head causing the fatal injuries.

Robson used scissors to attack her body and cut off her hair, before he turned on the teenager.

The court heard how the former cage fighter stabbed and slashed him more than 40 times with scissors and knives before fleeing with his victims’ phones.

He told a neighbour, a nurse, he had “done something and she’s in a bad way” before driving off, going on the run for six days before he was located by police in Glasgow and arrested on suspicion of murder.

Robson, of Stanley Street, Wallsend, denied charges of murder and attempted murder but today, Tuesday, March 30, was convicted by a jury on both offences – he will be sentenced tomorrow.

He was also convicted of blackmail after forcing Caroline to pay him £29,000 in the weeks leading up to the attack by threatening to reveal details of her relationship with the teenager.

Following the case, senior investigating officer at Northumbria Police, Detective Inspector Graeme Barr, welcomed the guilty verdicts while he said it was one of the most violent offences he has ever investigated.

He said: “Paul Robson has been fuelled by a jealous rage and attended his former address that night with one thing on his mind.

“His attack on Caroline and his teenage victim was pre-meditated and demonstrated horrendous levels of violence.

“There is no doubt he wanted to kill or permanently disfigure both of his victims.

"He succeeded in killing his former partner and has left his teenage victim scarred for life.

“Not only that, but he spent the days that followed trying to avoid police before attempting to pin Caroline’s murder on a vulnerable, teenage boy.

“Those actions have put the teenage victim, his family and Caroline’s family through the ordeal of a trial and I want to praise the bravery they have shown throughout these proceedings.

“I know that for them no punishment will be enough, but today’s verdicts do mean that Paul Robson will be handed a life sentence.

“There is a very real chance he will never experience freedom again and I hope that can bring some justice to his victims.”

During his trial, career criminal Robson said he met Caroline when imprisoned in HMP Northumberland in 2005 and they began their clandestine relationship.

Robson was further jailed for 10 years in 2014 for drugs and firearms offences and returned to the prison, where he was re-united with Caroline, who was employed as a teacher in its education department.

Robson was released in 2018 but their relationship continued until 2020, when Robson became aware of Caroline’s relationship with the teenager.

The dramatic events of the pandemic are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive.

We are now more reliant than ever on your support through buying our newspaper.

If you can, please pick up a copy of the Northumberland Gazette when you are at the shops.

Thank you.