Woman convicted of murder – Bicester

Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit, a woman has been convicted of murder following an incident in Bicester in March 2024.

Bailey Heywood, aged 23, of no fixed abode was today (13/09) convicted of one count of murder, after a jury found her guilty following a trial at Oxford Crown Court.

The conviction relates to the death of Dale Bond, a 45-year-old man from Bicester.

On Wednesday 13 March 2024 at around 12.20pm, Thames Valley Police received a phone call from a member of the public, stating that they believed that a man had been seriously injured and provided details of who had injured them.

Officers were rapidly deployed to Mullein Road, Bicester, where they found Dale Bond in the lounge of the flat he lived in, with stab wounds. Attending officers provided emergency treatment, paramedics from South Central Ambulance and the Air Ambulance were deployed and they provided specialist emergency medical treatment. Sadly Mr Bond was pronounced dead at the scene.

At the same time as Mr Bond was being attended to, officers deployed to an address in Bicester where Bailey Heywood was arrested. She was found with her clothing covered in blood. She was arrested on suspicion of murder.

An investigation was launched by our Major Crime Unit.

A Home Office post-mortem confirmed that the cause of Mr Bond’s death was a stab wound to the chest.

On 15 March, Bailey Heywood was charged with one count of murder.

Bailey Heywood will be sentenced at the same court on Monday (16/9).

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Will Crowther of the Major Crime Unit, said: “My thoughts firstly go out to the family and friends of Mr Bond, who have lost a much loved son, father, brother, uncle, and friend.

“Dale’s life was taken at the hands of Heywood. The jury completely rejected Heywood’s account that she was acting in self-defence, and there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that Mr Bond attacked Heywood.

“The precise motives for the murder remain unclear to this day and Heywood is the only person who could tell us, but she has chosen not to, instead claiming self-defence.  

“We know that Heywood went to see Mr Bond, who she was in a relationship with, and when he least expected it, she subjected him to a vicious attack stabbing him. One of the blows caused an un-survivable wound to his chest.

“Heywood left Mr Bond for dead and was arrested shortly after when we were alerted to the incident. 

 “I would like to pay tribute to the family of Mr Bond, who have been supportive throughout our investigation, and have acted with dignity during the court process. I hope that the conviction of Heywood will help them to move forward.”

GFL

Notes to Editors

Date of conviction was 13 September