A heartbroken grandmother has revealed how her life changed forever when her beloved younger sister was brutally murdered.
Josephine Rule, 71, adored her younger sister, Joy Boulton, growing up, and the pair spoke on the phone every day.
In May 2023, 59-year-old Joy, who lived in Ash, Surrey, was beaten to death by her fiancé Trevor Dibnah’s ex-partner, jealous love rival Sara McKenzie.
McKenzie, 62, hated Joy for ‘stealing’ her husband after a year-long love triangle and beat her to death in her own home in the quiet town.
Josephine continues to mourn her sister’s tragic death, calling McKenzie, who showed no remorse in court, “pure evil.”
Josephine, a retired housekeeper who worked in a children’s home, said: ‘Sara’s motive was simple: she wanted what Joy had.
“When I think of Joy’s last moments of pain, I hope Sara rots in prison.
“I don’t want my beloved sister to be remembered for this. She had a heart of gold and has left a hole in my family’s hearts that can never be filled.
“No punishment will bring her back.”
Joy Boulton (photo) was murdered in May 2023 by Sara McKenzie, the jealous ex-partner of her fiancé Trevor Dibnah
Josephine, from Aldershot, Surrey, has three children, 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. However, her younger sister Joy had no children and lived alone for many years.
Josephine added: “I was 11 years older than Joy. She was my shadow growing up, and I always wanted to protect her no matter what.
‘Later in life we remained very close. Joy got married in her early twenties, but it only lasted a year.
“She prioritized our mother and helped care for her over the years. While I had a family of my own.
‘But after we lost mum in 2011, Joy felt the worst and turned to alcohol.
‘So much so that later that year she almost died and was put into a medically induced coma.
“Joy survived and survived. But had mobility issues and had to use a frame to walk.
Sisters Josephine Rule (left) and Joy were very close growing up and called every day
Murderer Sara McKenzie (pictured), 62, showed no remorse for her crimes in court
‘She initially had a carer, but then adapted to life as a disabled person.
‘She couldn’t work because of that, but fortunately she never touched a drop of alcohol again. We were all so proud of her.”
In 2021, Joy told Josephine that she was in love with a mechanic, Trevor Dibnah, who lived locally.
Josephine explained: ‘He was known as a womanizer and had a partner, Sara.
“Joy and this guy were having an affair and I was really worried. I told her to stop and that she would get herself into trouble.
‘I also didn’t want anyone to take advantage of my sister. She had been so lonely over the years and I knew she was very vulnerable. I continued to express my concerns to her.
‘Little by little she became more distant because she knew I didn’t approve. The more serious her relationship became, she stopped talking to me.
‘Friends and family told me they had never seen her laugh so much. I missed her terribly and wished we could go back to the way we were.”
McKenzie, who lived just a mile from Joy’s home, killed Joy by hitting her on the back of the head with a heavy object.
Joy was only 59 when she was murdered by McKenzie. Joy is pictured here in her late twenties
The following year, in December 2022, Josephine discovered via Facebook that Joy was engaged to Trevor.
She soon learned through her grandchildren that Joy’s husband had finally left his partner, McKenzie, after a year-long affair and a love triangle.
He had chosen Joy and quickly moved to Joy’s house – just a mile away from McKenzie’s house. Within six weeks the couple was engaged.
Josephine said: ‘I had told my grandchildren that Joy was making a big mistake. But I didn’t say anything to Joy.
‘She was already engaged and hadn’t told me the news herself because she was probably afraid I would shout at her or her partner. I decided not to interfere.
‘However, I heard all about what was happening through my grandchildren as they often visited them.’
The following year, the family continued to hear rumors that McKenzie was desperate to rekindle her relationship with Trevor, but Josephine still didn’t hear from Joy.
In May 2023, Josephine was having dinner at home when she received a call from her grandson, who was panicking.
Joy on her wedding day, early twenties. Unfortunately, her marriage only lasted a year; she had no children
She said: ‘He told me it was Joy. Her road was closed with police tape leading up to her home.
‘My heart sank. He picked me up and we drove straight to Joy’s house.
‘I ran to the police and told them I was Joy’s older sister. I begged them to tell me if she was still alive.
‘They told me she was dead. In that moment my world ended.
‘As I burst into tears, my grandson helped me back to the car.
‘Joy’s partner, who came over to introduce himself, didn’t even seem upset.
‘He told me he had been working all day and Joy hadn’t answered. I was furious and kept questioning him.”
Later that day, Josephine was told by police that Trevor’s ex-partner, McKenzie, had been arrested.
Joy is pictured at the age of 17 with Trish, the daughter of her older sister Josephine
Her DNA had been found under Joy’s fingernails, while witnesses on the street had said they saw her screaming at the house.
Josephine added: ‘Then my family and I slowly discovered what had happened.
‘Unable to cope with her partner’s rejection, Sara had come to the house. Her partner was at work and Joy was alone.
‘Sara confronted her about stealing her husband from her and hit Joy on the back of the head twenty times with a heavy object. She beat her to death.
‘Neighbours heard Sara shout: ‘That’s my husband, that’s my husband.’
‘I cried so much for my sister. I knew something terrible would come out of all this.
“Sara was hateful and what she had done was despicable.
“Mine and our family’s hearts were broken. Months later I said goodbye at her funeral, I couldn’t bear to see her life taken from her.
‘After everything she had been through in her life. She was disabled and had not touched alcohol in thirteen and a half years. She didn’t deserve this.’
Months later, in November 2023, Josephine, her children and grandchildren were all in court before McKenzie.
McKenzie, who had curly gray hair, showed no remorse in court.
The family discovered during the trial how she had been harassing Joy for over a year.
Joy, pictured at 17 with Josephine’s daughter Trish, devoted much of her life to caring for their mother
Josephine added: ‘She came to the house shouting that she was a slag and a slut, asking what Joy had that she didn’t.
‘Two weeks before the murder she had tried to break in. Joy hadn’t called me or told me anything.
‘I cried and thought if Joy had just told me what was going on, she might still be here. I would stop doing it.
‘In court we watched bodycam footage of Sara being questioned by the police, acting completely nonchalant and without concern.
‘After the murder she had simply gone to work and even refueled her car at the gas station.
“They couldn’t show us the real photos of Joy because her brain was hanging out of her head.”
Josephine discovered that McKenzie also had an obsession with murder mysteries.
She had purchased Luminol, a substance that can identify traces of blood, and then diluted it on her clothes in her bathtub.
Josephine (pictured) and her children and grandchildren attended the trial of Sara McKenzie in November 2023. McKenzie was sentenced to 27 years in prison for murder and perverting the course of justice
That week, McKenzie was found guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice at Guildford Crown Court.
A month later she was sentenced to 27 years in prison.
Josephine said: ‘She was pure evil. I wanted her to rot in her cell because nothing would bring my sister back.
‘We not only despised Sara, but also Joy’s partner.
“Joy had a heart of gold and has left a hole in my family’s hearts that can never be filled.
‘When I felt down, Joy always told me to hold my penis up.
“So when I cry because I miss her, I think that to myself now. I hold my cock up and think of her sweet, smiling face in the sky.’