A man has been jailed for 12 years for killing his girlfriend after he says an argument turned violent.

Yahya Aboukar, 27, of Earlham Grove, Newham, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court today (Friday, November 18) after yesterday being found guilty of the manslaughter of Kirsty Ashley on Boxing Day, 2021.

During the trial, Aboukar's defence claimed he 'lost control' after Ms Ashley became violent and offered a guilty plea to manslaughter. The jury found him not guilty of Kirsty's murder and convicted him of manslaughter.

Police had been called to an address in Earlham Grove, Newham, on Boxing Day (December 26) 2021. 

In Aboukar's bedroom, officers found signs of a struggle and a bar weight, a claw hammer and clothing stained with blood, but he fled via the window.

Aboukar was found nearby and arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

When the body of 29-year-old Ms Ashley was found in the back garden, he was further arrested on suspicion of murder.

READ MORE: Man convicted of manslaughter of woman in 'incredibly brutal' Boxing Day attack

CCTV later showed that Aboukar dragged Kirsty's body into the garden. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of Kirsty's death as blunt force trauma.

A spokesperson for Kirsty's family said: "Our family is devastated. It is so hard to accept that we won’t see Kirsty again.

"While she is gone from our lives she will never be gone from our thoughts. It is right that her killer was convicted – there can be no excuse for what he did to our lovely girl who had her life ahead of her."

Detective Inspector Francis Copley of the Met's Specialist Crime Command said: "The attack launched on Kirsty by Aboukar was incredibly brutal. There can be no justification for this level of violence and it is right that he will now pay for his actions with his freedom.

"Nothing can bring Kirsty back to her family, but I sincerely hope that they draw some small comfort in the knowledge that her killer is behind bars. My thoughts are with them."