The schoolgirl killed for a bet: Boy, 16, was dared by Facebook friends to murder in exchange for a free breakfast

By CLAIRE ELLICOTT


Trusted friend of the family: Joshua Davies with Rebecca Aylward during their three-month relationship

Relaxing with his girlfriend, he looks the picture of innocence.

Yet not long after this picture was taken with Rebecca Aylward, Joshua Davies battered her to death.

Davies, 16, lured his ex-girlfriend to a secluded spot where he killed her to win a bet over a free breakfast.


Welcomed into the family: Davies with Rebecca and her brother Jack. Rebecca even bought new clothes for the 'date' unaware Davies had been boasting to his friends how easy it would be to kill her


Rebecca, 15, and her mother Sonia had both been delighted when Davies, an academically gifted boy from a churchgoing family, arranged to meet her again.

When her daughter failed to come home, Mrs Aylward's reaction was to tell her sister not to worry adding: 'She's safe, she's with Josh'.



New dress: Rebecca was left lying face down in the rain after the vicious attack


By that time Rebecca had been bludgeoned with a rock the size of a rugby ball - and Davies was trying to cover his tracks on Facebook.

He failed - and was yesterday found guilty of murder.

The chilling case highlighted how he used the internet, text messages and an array of social networking sites to plot her death.


Joshua Davies arriving at Swansea Crown Court. The trial heard that two days before the murder Davies texted his friend to say: 'Don't say anything but you may just owe me a breakfast.'


A few weeks before the murder, one of his friends had joked that he would ‘buy him breakfast’ if he carried out his threat.

Two days before he killed Rebecca, Davies told him: ‘You may have to buy me a breakfast.’


Davies bludgeoned Rebecca to death with a rock the size of a rugby ball. He later boasted to a friend and showed him the scene


Davies posted Facebook updates saying he was ‘just chilling with my two friends’ while watching Strictly Come Dancing to imply he was at home at the time the murder took place.

He later posted the Facebook status update: ‘I enjoyed a rather good day and a lovely breakfast’, in a clear reference to the bet he had made with his friend.

And he posted his own concerned messages on Facebook after Rebecca was reported missing, suggesting he was genuinely worried and giving her family no cause to suspect he was involved.

‘I feel sorry for her mother,’ the murderer wrote on Facebook.

When asked why, he replied: ‘Well if I was a parent I’d be worried if my daughter was missing.’


Sonia Aylward, Rebecca's mother, outside court in Swansea after Davies was found guilty. Standing with her are Rebecca's brother and sister

source: dailymail