Full Breakdown
Murder of Courtney: Michael Doherty’s Fatal Assault and Ongoing Trial
5/29/2026, 4:39:25 AM
Fatal Assault – Core Facts
On 25 July, Michael Doherty (formerly Michael Moore, name change in 2018) killed Courtney, a woman who had moved into his house days earlier. The court heard that Courtney repeatedly rejected Doherty’s advances and told him she wanted no relationship. During a drug-fuelled assault, Doherty sexually attacked her, inflicted blunt-force head injuries, and strangled her, leaving severed body parts on the mantelpiece. A pathologist identified strangulation and head trauma as the causes of death. After the killing, Doherty photographed Courtney’s body on his phone and messaged a friend: “I’ve killed someone, ring me please.”
Prior Violence and Name Change – Background
Doherty’s criminal history includes convictions for raping a stranger and for torching a former partner’s car. These prior offenses illustrate a pattern of violence toward women who reject him. In 2018 he legally changed his surname from Moore to Doherty.
Principal Individuals – Key Figures
Chronology – Timeline
- 2018 – Michael Moore legally changes his name to Michael Doherty.
- Prior to July 2023 – Doherty convicted of rape and arson.
- Early July 2023 – Courtney moves into Doherty’s house.
- 25 July 2023 – Fatal assault occurs; Courtney is murdered.
- Post-murder – Doherty sends a message to a friend confessing the killing.
- Current – Trial proceedings ongoing; evidence presented to the court.
