Cardiff killer Googled 'how to slice a neck' before frenzied double murder
A "controlling" man carried out research into the easiest way to kill someone before murdering his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend, a court has heard.
Andrew Saunders stabbed Zoe Morgan, 21, and Lee Simmons, 33, to death outside the Matalan shop where they both worked, Cardiff Crown court has heard.
The couple were found dead close to the store in Cardiff city centre at around 6am on 28 September.
Saunders used Google to search for topics such as "the easiest way to kill a person" and "how long do murderers serve in prison" in the days before the killings, the court was told.
The 21-year-old bought knives and latex gloves before finally searching "how to slice a neck" and "how to smoke a cigar", prosecutor Philip Bennett QC told the court.
Mrs Justice Nicola Davies DBE is due to sentence Saunders after a hearing which is expected to last two days.
The court heard Saunders and Miss Morgan were in a relationship between June 2014 and July 2016, when she broke up with him.
After she ended the relationship, he accused her of cheating on him and warned her "I will kill whoever it is".
Days after the break up, Saunders sent Miss Morgan a photograph of the back of her house and later told her he had contacted Mr Simmons on Facebook, to tell him he would "smash his f****** head in".
The prosecutor said the accused was spotted walking up and down Queen Street in the early hours of the morning on 26 and 27 September and continued to carry out searches for topics such as "how can a car be rigged to explode".
On the day of the killing, at 5.45am, Saunders walked towards the entrance to Matalan where Miss Morgan and Mr Simmons were waiting, took out an eight-inch knife from his rucksack and began to attack Mr Simmons.
As the victim called out "please", "help, help, help" and "stop, stop", Mr Bennett said Saunders replied "f*** off" and continued his knife attack, which one witness described as a frenzy.
Miss Morgan tried to pull the defendant off Mr Simmons but was told "I'm coming for you next".
She started screaming and ran towards Boots but was caught by Saunders who took out a second knife and fatally stabbed her as well.
Police and paramedics tried to save the couple, Mr Bennett said, but were unable to. They each had eight stab wounds.
As officers searched for Saunders, he spoke to his mother on the phone then drove to the family home before, at 6.30am, posting on Facebook "F***" and then later adding: "Product of society."
When he was arrested, he told police: "I'm sorry, you know sometimes you just snap," and then asked "are they both dead?".
Saunders' counsel, Winston Roddick QC, said his client was in "emotional turmoil" at the time of the offence because of the end of the relationship with Miss Morgan.
"He is genuinely remorseful for what he has done and more than once said he wishes to turn the clock back," Mr Roddick said.
Saunders, of no fixed address, has previously pleaded guilty to the two murders and is due to sentenced on Tuesday.
