Per The Guardian, Frankie Fitzgerald’s murder was a crime of passion and jealousy committed after Shaye Groves reportedly discovered Fitzgerald messaged an underage girl online. Another aspect of Groves’ defense included home videos that Groves sent to her friend, Vikki Baitup, of what appeared to be Fitzgerald assaulting her. Groves and Fitzgerald did reportedly engage in BDSM sex acts. In addition to the framed photos on her walls and her interest in true crime documentaries, Groves reportedly kept a selection of books on crime and criminals. She also had a collection of weapons, like the Celtic dagger with which Fitzgerald was killed.
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In the aftermath of the crime, the Mirror reports Groves called Baitup. During that phone call, Grove giggled and made small talk, Baitup said in her appearance at the murder trial. In Baitup’s testimony, she explained (via the Mirror), “[Groves] said to me ‘it’s really big, you’ve got to promise not to tell anyone.’ That’s when she went upstairs, went into her room, pointed the camera at [Fitzgerald] and said ‘I’ve done him,'” referring to Fitzgerald’s murder. At the end of the call, Groves reportedly asked, “‘[W]e’re still friends aren’t we?’,” according to Baitup’s testimony.
