A court in Canberra has been informed that a man who murdered his partner was determined to prevent her from leaving him. Adam Britt took the stand to express remorse to the family of Tiffany Spence, admitting he did not deserve their forgiveness for her death.
Britt is anticipated to receive his sentence later this year. Please note that this article discusses distressing content.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the Australian Capital Territory has advocated for Britt to receive a life sentence, highlighting the “torturous nature” of the crime.
The victim, Tiffany Spence, aged 36, was killed by 41-year-old Adam James Britt at their residence in Reid in September 2022, following a violent episode that spanned two days. During the sentencing hearing, it was revealed that when paramedics arrived, Ms. Spence had suffered injuries that were unprecedented for them.
An autopsy indicated that she had sustained rib and lower back fractures, along with significant bruising and cuts covering 40% of her body. In his testimony today, Britt acknowledged that his actions toward Ms. Spence amounted to torture.
Evidence presented in court indicated that Britt had previously assaulted Ms. Spence on two occasions throughout their year-long relationship. In the days leading up to her murder, she had been away from their home for six days and had changed her phone number. Britt expressed that he aimed to “punish her” out of anger for what he perceived as her lies and deceit.
When questioned about his emotional state during the attacks, Britt confirmed, “I was in a rage.” He entered a guilty plea for murder just before his trial was set to begin in February of this year, nearly three years after his arrest. Britt stated he accepted guilt as he meant to inflict serious harm, although he denied having the intention to kill Ms. Spence.
The court also learned that Britt had taken photographs of Ms. Spence during the assaults. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Victoria Engel SC, suggested that these images demonstrated Britt’s determination to control her, asserting, “You wanted to show her how bad it would get if she left for good.” Britt refuted the idea that the photos were meant as threats in the future and instead indicated they served as a record of his anger.
Engel argued for a life sentence, emphasizing the prolonged and brutal nature of the attacks, which, she contended, reflected a clear intention to kill. Britt’s attorney, Philip Massey, acknowledged the gravity of the murder but focused on his client’s intentions during the incident, asserting that taking photographs contradicted any intention to kill.
Earlier in the proceedings, Britt read an apology to Ms. Spence’s family, stating, “What I did was utterly unacceptable, shameful, and wrong… I cannot express how sorry I am. In no way do I seek forgiveness for what I’ve done; I don’t deserve it.”
Britt awaits sentencing, which is expected later this year.
