A man who murdered his partner in a “sustained and savage” knife attack has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Corey Dryden, 32, stabbed mother-of-two Megan Hughes, 31, a total of 27 times at their home in Chirnside, Scottish Borders, on 9 February. The court heard he also struck her repeatedly with a hammer during the fatal assault before claiming she had attacked him first.
Lord Harrower told Dryden via videolink on Thursday that the violent nature of the attack had deprived Ms Hughes’ family of “the opportunity to look upon her face one last time.” The judge said no sentence could alleviate their anguish.
During his police interview hours after the murder, Dryden wept and told detectives: “I did really love her, you know.” When later assessed by mental health professionals in custody, he told a nurse it was “unlikely” he would be released on bail as he had “hacked” his girlfriend to death.
The court heard disturbing details of how a neighbour was woken at 2.15am by loud banging and heard Ms Hughes repeatedly shouting “please help me” and screaming. Prosecutor Tracey Brown said the neighbour also heard Dryden tell his partner to “shut up” before the noise subsided.
<cite>She was beautiful and caring. This has left a massive hole in the family who are all absolutely devastated,</cite> Ms Hughes’ family said in a statement released through Police Scotland following her death.
Dryden called 999 at approximately 4.30am, claiming Ms Hughes had stabbed herself after attacking him with a hammer. Officers found her lying on an upstairs bedroom floor with a kitchen knife in her right hand, but she was pronounced dead despite CPR attempts.
A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as multiple stab wounds to the chest and neck. The 27 stab wounds inflicted during what Lord Harrower called a “monstrous” attack left Ms Hughes with injuries so severe her family could not view her body.
The court heard the couple had known each other since childhood but only became romantically involved in February 2024. They moved in together in July that year, with Ms Hughes’ two children from a previous relationship.
Warning signs emerged in December 2024 when Dryden was fined £300 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court for threatening and abusive behaviour towards Ms Hughes in a pub. Lord Harrower revealed a pre-sentencing report from that incident showed Ms Hughes had expressed fear “that you would kill her if she returned home that night.”
“Ultimately, those fears were realised,” the judge told Dryden. Text messages sent by the killer in the hours before the murder showed he was “struggling to manage his emotions within the context of the relationship.”
One message to a friend read: “I’m gonna do time, wish I was single.” Another stated: “Tryin’ not to go mental speak soon bro.” The court heard both had consumed approximately a bottle and a half of wine each on the night of the murder.
Dryden claimed during police interviews that Ms Hughes “hated him” and they “argued every day.” He admitted being on painkillers for his leg and having recently taken street valium not prescribed by a doctor.
The killer alleged Ms Hughes swung a hammer at him after he made a derogatory comment, claiming he blocked it with his crutch before disarming her and striking her head with the weapon. He said he then “blanked out” and told officers: “It was like I was possessed.”
Defence advocate Lili Prais KC said her client “struggles to comprehend” how he could commit such a crime. In a letter to the judge, Dryden accepted no sentence would justify the “despicable, monstrous crime I have committed.”
Dryden last month pleaded guilty to murder, with the charge detailing how he repeatedly struck Ms Hughes on the head and body with both a knife and “a hammer or similar object.” He showed no emotion as Lord Harrower delivered the sentence via videolink from prison.
Detective Chief Inspector Laura White of Police Scotland branded the attack “vicious and calculated,” adding: “His actions have robbed a family of their mum, daughter, granddaughter, sister and niece. Our thoughts very much remain with Megan’s family and friends as they come to terms with what happened to her.”
Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “Corey Dryden is a violent and dangerous man who murdered Megan Hughes in her home, where she had the right to be safe.
She added: “After subjecting her to a horrific assault, he left his partner on the floor to die instead of calling for help. His cruel and callous actions have robbed Megan of her future and left her family and loved ones to deal with this unimaginable loss.”
The case highlighted the escalating pattern of domestic violence, with Dryden’s threatening behaviour documented just two months before the fatal attack. Ms Hughes had explicitly voiced fears for her life following the December incident.
Lord Harrower emphasised the particular cruelty of the injuries inflicted, referencing victim impact statements that described how “special” Ms Hughes was to her loved ones. The nature of the attack meant her family were unable to say a final goodbye.
The judge’s reference to Ms Hughes’ expressed fears being “ultimately realised” underscored the tragic predictability of the escalation from verbal abuse to fatal violence. The December court appearance for threatening behaviour had provided a clear warning sign.
Dryden will serve at least 18 years before being eligible for parole consideration. The life sentence reflects the severity of the sustained attack and the devastating impact on Ms Hughes’ children and wider family.
The murder occurred at the couple’s home on Windram Road in Chirnside, near a children’s playpark, shocking the small Borders community. Police cordoned off the property as forensic teams gathered evidence following the early morning attack.
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