This is the harrowing moment a woman confessed to killing her friend in a 999 call, claiming she punched him and stuffed a sock down his throat in 'self defence' before leaving his body for four days.
Anne-Marie Burrowes, 52, was sentenced today at Cambridge Crown Court to life in prison with a minimum term of 17 years for the murder of Paul Knowles in October last year.
In the 999 call released by police, Burrowes can be heard telling the operator that she 'killed him' and that she didn't know if she had been 'tripping' as they had 'all been taking drugs that night'.
Burrowes then directs the operator to the address where Knowles' dead body was and said he had attacked her with a bottle twice before she could retaliate.
Anne-Marie Burrowes has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 17 years
Paul Knowles was killed at his Peterborough home in October last year
Earlier this month, Burrowes was found guilty of killing Knowles on October 26 after assaulting him by punching him in the face and then stuffing a sock down his throat.
She called the police four days after the death, on October 30, to say she had killed a man but refused to say who or where.
On November 19, she called police again to confess that she couldn't live with the guilt.
In the second call she named Mr Knowles and told officers what she had done to him and where they would find his body.
In the call she can be heard confessing to killing Mr Knowles 'in self defence' and telling them to go to the address to 'find his dead body', without naming Knowles.
Officers found the body in the location described with significant injuries to his face, eyes and neck.
A sock had been lodged in the back of his throat, blocking his airways.
Burrowes maintained that she was acting in self-defence but at Cambridge Crown Court she was found guilty of murder on July 18, before being handed a life sentence on July 23.
The court had heard how Burrowes and Mr Knowles would regularly meet at the latter's flat in Peterborough, Cambs to drink alcohol.
Things turned violent and she killed Knowles on October 26, taking his bank card and using it at a shop.
She claimed to be having recurring nightmares and gave no other details after first calling police,
Following her second call, officers found his body and discovered he had significant injuries to his face, eyes and neck.
A sock had been lodged in the back of his throat, blocking his airway.
Burrowes was tracked down the following day and on her arrest she said: 'One of them ones where you wish you hadn't turned up at all, you know, and turn the clocks back sort of thing.'
In interview she gave a prepared statement, which explained she and Mr Knowles had been alcoholics.
She said they would regularly meet at the flat to drink - but things suddenly became violent on October 26.
She claimed she had gone to his flat where he had become abusive and had prevented her from leaving.
She claimed when she had tried to leave, he had come at her with a bottle, and she had acted in self-defence, hitting him a couple of times before fleeing.
'He attacked me [inaudible] two times with a bottle,' she was heard to say on a recording of a call to 999.
'I took it off him and then hit him over the head a couple of times and then took his eyes out [inaudible] throat.'
She said she didn't remember what had happened after that and it had all become a blur but claimed he had been alive when she left.
A forensic post-mortem examination revealed Mr Knowles had died from airway obstruction from the sock, and facial fractures.
Anne-Marie Burrowes, pictured on bodycam footage during her arrest, was sentenced today
Burrowes claimed he had come at her with a bottle and she had acted in self-defence
Detective Inspector Richard Stott, from the Beds, Cambs and Herts Major Crime Unit, said: 'This is a horrific and tragic case where a man has lost his life after being violently assaulted and having a sock forced into his throat.
'Burrowes' actions showed there was no other intention than to kill him.
'Our thoughts remain with Paul's son, family and friends at this difficult time, and we hope this conviction provides some sense of justice for them.
'I would like to add my thanks to the police major crime investigation team, Crown Prosecution Service and prosecution counsel for their hard work and a great collaborative effort.'
Mr Knowles' son, Nathan Naylor, previously paid an emotional tribute to his 'hero' father, who was known as Knobby.
He said: 'My dad was my hero. He spent 22 years and one day in the Royal Navy.
'He was a loving father, son and brother. Such a pure soul and loved by many. Fair winds and calm seas.'
