'Monstrous' knife and hammer attack killer caged for life

A MAN jailed for a minimum of 18 years for murdering his partner has told a court he had committed a "despicable, monstrous crime".

- By James Mulholland

Corey Dryden killed mother-of-two, Megan Hughes, by attacking her with a knife and a claw hammer.

The 32-year-old was high on drink and drugs at the time of the fatal attack in Berwickshire.

After a previous row between the couple in a nearby pub, the court was told the victim had admitted fearing for her life if she returned home with the defendant.

Three months later, her prediction sadly came true when Dryden murdered the 31-year-old on the evening of Sunday, February 9, at the home which they shared in Chirnside.

At an earlier hearing, Dryden had admitted murdering Ms Hughes. Yesterday, he was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh. Judge Lord Harrower told Dryden he would be jailed for a minimum of 18 years and there was no guarantee that he would be freed then.