Life for stabbing wife 107 times

Mrs Smith's body was found at a house in Stevenage

A husband who murdered his wife by stabbing her 107 times when she announced she wanted to leave him has been jailed for life.

Derek Smith, 61, was jailed at Luton Crown Court after he admitted the murder of his second wife Carolyn, 40.

Her body was found after police were called to their house in Stanmore Road, Stevenage, Herts, on 24 January.

Smith, who denied murder but changed his plea before the trial, will serve a minimum of twelve-and-a-half years.

The court had heard how Mrs Smith had told her husband she was leaving him on her 40th birthday, nine days before he killed her.

'Dazed and confused'

Ann Evans, prosecuting, told the court that five days before her death Smith had confronted his wife in their living room with a knife and threatened to kill her and himself.

Mrs Smith had told her best friend that he shook her by her wrists and she was absolutely petrified.

Four days later, on 24 January, a neighbour heard screams and called the police.

Miss Evans said: "There is no doubt that even if the police had forced their way in, there was nothing that could have been done to save the wife."

Smith let police officers into the home the following morning and told an officer he had killed his wife.

"He appeared dazed and confused, he was covered in dried blood and wearing only bloodied boxer shorts," Miss Smith said.

Tragic consequences

Ann Cotcher QC, defending, said he was generous, loyal, hardworking and honest and had been besotted with his wife.

"This is a tragic incident with tragic consequences, the ripples of which are almost beyond belief," she told the court.

She said Smith had taken 60 paracetamol on the night he killed his wife, in an attempt to kill himself.

"Something must have caused this most mild mannered gentleman to behave in such a violent way," she added.

Jailing Smith, Judge John Bevan, told him: "This was an appalling act by you. It seems you were besotted with the victim and unable to accept the break up which she announced on her birthday."

He added that Smith had "overreacted".