A man who murdered his wife by stabbing her 77 times, strangling her, and striking her with a dog food can has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years.
Robert Alexander, 66, carried out the fatal attack on 60-year-old nurse Christina Alexander at their home in Dosthill, Tamworth, in June last year, Stafford Crown Court heard during a sentencing hearing on Tuesday.
A jury unanimously convicted Alexander of murder in June 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 arriving police officers: “I’ve disposed of my wife”.
He subsequently claimed during his trial that he had no memory of the incident, asserting that he “lost the plot” after being struck in the stomach.
Handing down the sentence, Judge Avik Mukherjee informed Alexander that evidence demonstrated he was fully aware his partner intended to leave him.
Directing his remarks to Alexander, who dressed in a grey T-shirt and kept his eyes fixed on the floor throughout much of the sentencing, the judge said: “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.”
Heartfelt victim impact statements presented to the court by the “most precious” nurse’s siblings and close friends were described by the judge as deeply moving.
The judge noted: “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.”
Addressing Alexander, who resided at Ascot Drive in Dosthill, the judge warned that there was “no guarantee that you will be released” once the 20-year minimum term elapses or at any point in the future.
Describing the assault as “repeated and sustained”, the judge told him: “Such was the ferocity and force of the attack that she succumbed to very serious injuries within a short period.”
It was further established by the judge that the killing occurred within a context of coercive and controlling behaviour, particularly regarding financial matters.