Scarlet Blake: Woman who killed cat found guilty of murdering man as he walked home from night out

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A girl who killed a cat in a blender has been found guilty of murdering a man as he walked home from a night out in Oxford.

Scarlet Blake, 26, killed Jorge Martin Carreno, 30, in July 2021, a jury at Oxford Crown Court found on Friday. Carreno was found useless within the River Cherwell at Parson’s Pleasure, having drowned after receiving a blow to the again of his head and being strangled.

Martin Carreno’s dying got here 4 months after Blake, who is transgender, live-streamed the killing and dissection of a cat. She admitted dissecting the animal, eradicating the fur and pores and skin and inserting it in a blender, however blamed her former accomplice, Ashlynn Bell.

The trial heard that Blake had an “extreme interest in death and in harm” and had killed the household pet after watching a Netflix documentary known as Don’t F**okay With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer. In the programme, a man, Luka Magnotta, kills kittens earlier than filming a homicide.

Live-streaming her actions with the tune “True Faith” by New Order taking part in within the background, Blake might be heard saying: “Here we go my little friend. Oh boy, you smell like s***. I can’t wait to put you through the blender.”

Prosecutors alleged the cat-killing was related to the homicide trial as it confirmed that Blake has a “disturbing interest in what it would be like to harm a living creature”.

Jurors additionally noticed movies of the defendant and her accomplice participating in consensual strangulation with ligatures.

Martin Carreno, a BMW employee, had been on a night out with work colleagues in Oxford metropolis centre earlier than he died.

CCTV footage exhibits Blake – sporting a heavy-duty coat and a masks and carrying a backpack – strolling across the metropolis centre earlier than approaching Martin Carreno, who was sitting down. Inside her bag she was carrying a “murder kit”, which included a garrotte and a leopard-print dressing-gown wire, as nicely as a vodka bottle.

After a short time, they went collectively to the secluded Parson’s Pleasure space, the place Blake attacked Martin Carreno with a blow to the pinnacle earlier than strangling and drowning him.

Blake had stated Martin Carreno was alive when she left him there to stroll home.

The defendant informed jurors she had falsely confessed to her accomplice that she had murdered Martin Carreno, as a result of Ms Bell, who lives within the US, had wished her to kill an individual after the cat incident.

Referring to the alleged confession, Blake informed the jury she had seen information reviews of the physique being found and created a fictitious story.

“I told Ashlynn that I killed that person, I made up the details in a dramatic way,” she stated. “I told her I used a garrotte that I made to try and remove the person’s head but it was more difficult than I would have imagined, and then I dumped the body in the river, which is what they are now pulling out.”

During her proof, Blake additionally claimed she had a fragmented character, which included being a cat, and meowed on the jury to indicate how she would work together with associates.

Jurors within the homicide trial went out to think about their verdict on Thursday afternoon and got here again to convict Blake 24 hours later.

In an announcement issued by Thames Valley Police after the decision on Friday, Martin Carreno’s household paid tribute to their cherished one.

“The loss of Jorge has left an open wound in the heart of his family but also in all those who had the pleasure of knowing him,” they stated.

“This loss feels like a traumatic, devastating blow, leaving a void impossible to fill. Going through the pain of losing a son, a brother, under such tragic and unjustified circumstances, is a trial no family should face.

“Today his absence leaves a deep wound in our hearts. His life was stolen, cutting short his projects and dreams. This tribute is a reminder of Jorge but also a call to justice. There can be no peace until justice is served.

“We ask not only for justice for him but also for protection to prevent other people, other families, from suffering the immense pain caused by such cruel and senseless murders. We extend our heartfelt thanks for the incredible support from family, friends, the police, and our lawyers during this tough time.”

Detective Superintendent Jon Capps, the senior investigating officer, stated: “Today’s verdict marks the end of a long and complex investigation. I know that many will want to focus on the actions and behaviour of this defendant.

“There are several aspects of this case that have been truly disturbing to see, hear and deal with. This defendant showed calculated cruelty. The acts Blake has been convicted of are barbaric and chilling. The murder was premeditated, with total disregard and disdain for life.

“Thankfully, crimes such as these are incredibly rare.

“I want rather to focus on Jorge and his family and pay tribute to them and the enormous dignity they have shown throughout this ordeal. They have put their trust in my team. I cannot begin to imagine the pain they feel.

“As the evidence has developed, they have had to try to come to terms with this not only being a murder, but the nature and character of this defendant, something that I know has served only to compound the grief they feel.

“There can be no beginning to understanding this senseless act.”