Tamworth man jailed for life for stabbing wife 77 times at Dosthill home

Robert Alexander, 66, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years at Stafford Crown Court for the murder of nurse Christina Alexander.

Husband sentenced to life over brutal killing of nurse in Tamworth

Robert Alexander, 66, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years for the murder of his wife, nurse Christina Alexander, 60, The Independent reports. The sentence was handed down on Tuesday at Stafford Crown Court.

Alexander stabbed Christina 77 times, strangled her, and struck her with a dog food can at their home in Dosthill, Tamworth, in June last year. A jury unanimously convicted him of murder following a 14-day trial, during which evidence was presented showing the victim suffered "catastrophic" wounds across her face, body, arms, legs and neck.

After killing his wife in the hallway and kitchen of their house, Alexander told officers who arrived at the scene: "I've disposed of my wife." During his trial he claimed he had no memory of the attack, asserting that he "lost the plot" after being struck in the stomach.

Sentencing Alexander, Judge Avik Mukherjee said the evidence demonstrated he had been fully aware that Christina intended to leave him. Addressing Alexander, who wore a grey T-shirt and kept his eyes on the floor throughout much of the hearing, the judge stated: "I am sure that you intended to kill Christina due to the extent of the injuries that you inflicted upon her and also the ways in which you attacked her."

The judge described victim impact statements from Christina's siblings and close friends — referring to her as the "most precious" nurse — as deeply moving. He remarked: "The taking of a life is a terrible thing – not only because of the life which is cut short but because of all the other lives that are damaged as well."

Judge Mukherjee characterised the assault as "repeated and sustained", adding: "Such was the ferocity and force of the attack that she succumbed to very serious injuries within a short period." He also established that the killing took place within a context of coercive and controlling behaviour, particularly in relation to financial matters.

Alexander, of Ascot Drive in Dosthill, was warned by the judge that there was "no guarantee that you will be released" once the 20-year minimum term expires, or at any point thereafter.

Source: The Independent