The murderer of Ms Pamela Bennett (21), from Monkstown, Co Antrim, had to be supported yesterday by a warder as he was jailed for life for her stabbing.
An officer held on to the arm of John Kerr (27), from Rathcoole, Co Antrim, as Mr Justice Pringle told him he had been convicted of "a most brutal, nasty murder".
Ms Bennett's semi-naked body was found by relatives in the living-room of her Tynan Drive home in Monkstown on August 31st last year.
Kerr had met Ms Bennett in a nearby club and the pair, who had been drinking, were spotted kissing as they waited for a taxi. A cousin who later called to see if Ms Bennett had arrived home safely found the pair still kissing and hugging.
When arrested, Kerr claimed: "See that wee girl, I never killed her. I went away and came back and she was dead."
It took a Belfast Crown Court jury of six men and six women less than an hour to reject his claims and unanimously convict him of murder.
Kerr, a separated father of one, said he left Ms Bennett sleeping while he tried to make his way to his Ardmillan Drive home in Rathcoole. He said he had fallen asleep by a phone box and on awakening returned to her home, only to find her dead.
Kerr tried to explain his blood-soaked clothing by claiming that they had been stained while he attempted to revive Ms Bennett by giving her the kiss of life.