Lifetime’s docuseries ‘Sleeping with a Killer’ revolves around murders committed by husbands, wives, former friends, and lovers. The series’ seventh episode focuses on the murder of Alice Ruggles (a 24-year-old Northumbria University student who was working at Sky at her death). Alice’s murder and her friend Maxine McGill’s frantic 999 call upon finding the former’s dead body shook not only the northern England town of Gateshead but also the entire country. If you wish to know more about Alice’s murder and her killer, you are at the right place!
Table of Contents
How Did Alice Ruggles Die?
Alice Ruggles was the eldest of four children to Sue Hills (and Clive Ruggles). With her siblings, she was raised in Tur Langton in Leicestershire. After she graduated from Northumbria University in 2016, she joined Sky’s Newcastle hub. On October 12, 2016, Alice’s dead body was found at her apartment in Rawling Road, Gateshead, by Maxine McGill, who lived and worked with the former. Maxine found Alice’s body with her throat slashed and then she called emergency number 999 to report the same. She reported that she found Alice “covered in blood.”
After the initial inspection, pathologist Dr. Jennifer Bolton found that Alice’s carotid artery, windpipe, and voice box cut through to her spine. She also noticed cuts in her hands, which she believed were defense wounds. Dr. Bolton later testified in court that the injuries Alice sustained were “unsurvivable.” Alice suffered 24 injuries in total, including defensive wounds.
Who Killed Alice Ruggles
Alice’s ex-boyfriend Trimaan “Harry” Dhillon killed her. After a mutual friend introduced Trimaan to Alice, the two became acquainted. They became friends and began to develop a relationship in early 2016. Trimaan was in Afghanistan at the time. According to reports, he began to alienate Alice and her friends, negatively impact her self-confidence, demand constant attention, and demanded constant attention. According to Alice Ruggles Trust she was critical of her life and took control of her account on Facebook. Alice was then contacted by a woman, who told her that Trimaan had been a friend of hers on a dating website and she wanted to establish a relationship.
Upon knowing about Trimaan’s relationships with other women, Alice broke up with him. However, he wasn’t ready to accept it. According to reports, he began to stalk her after the breakup. Trimaan began to visit her house, in addition to sending her voicemails, texts, and voicemails via different phones. He repeatedly rang Alice’s doorbell and knocked on her window. After Alice started a new relationship, Trimaan tried to cause trouble in that one as well. Alice eventually contacted the police to report Trimaan’s actions and the authorities asked him to stay away from her.
On October 12, 2016, as per reports, Trimaan broke into Alice’s flat and cornered her in her bathroom despite Alice’s attempts to lock herself in the bathroom. Trimaan had grabbed a large and sharp carving knife, and slashed Alice’s throat at least six more times. He also cut through her spine with the knife. Trimaan then took Alice’s phone and murder weapon and fled, disposing of them on his way back to Edinburgh. After discovering Alice’s body, Maxine called 999 and named Trimaan as the murderer and called him an “absolute psychopath.”
The Northumbria police arrested Trimaan, only for him to say that he hasn’t gone to Alice’s flat. However, he then changed his testimony when Alice’s blood was found in his Help For Heroes wristband and the steering wheel of his BMW vehicle.
Where is Trimaan Dhillon Now?
In court, Trimaan Dhillon denied killing Alice. He claimed that Alice lunged at Trimaan with a carving knife following an argument. Richard Wright, the prosecutor, stated that Trimaan said that he had put Alice in a headlock in an attempt to stop her attack. However, she collapsed in the toilet. According to reports, Trimaan claimed that Alice pushed the knife into her throat after losing her balance and lunged at her. However, Dr. Bolton made it clear that Trimaan’s account was “inconsistent” with her findings upon inspecting the injuries.
Paul Sloan, Newcastle Crown Court Judge sentenced Trimaan to 22 years in prison. Judge Sloan described the murder as an act of “utter barbarism.” “Not a shred of remorse have you [Trimaan] shown from first to last – indeed you were concentrating so hard on getting your story right when giving evidence you forgot even to shed a crocodile tear,” the judge added while sentencing Trimaan. Even though the murderer was convicted, Trimaan appealed against his sentence. It was rejected in 2018.
As per sources, Trimaan is currently imprisoned in HM Prison Durham, a category B men’s prison in the Elvet area of Durham in County Durham, England. In 2020, Alice’s parents Sue Hills and Clive Ruggles expressed their concern about whether Trimaan’s minimum sentence term of 22 years will be considered as his full sentence. They are hopeful that their and Judge Sloan’s remarks will be taken into account before considering Trimaan’s release if it will happen. Alice’s parents are also worried whether Trimaan will get released without the fulfillment of his term if he is allowed to complete his sentence in India, his native country. However, any decision concerning the same hasn’t been made yet.
Read more: Raul Ortiz Murder, Where is Erin Robinson Now