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Sharon Edwards: Violent wife murdered lawyer husband | Sharon Edwards: Violent wife murdered lawyer husband |
(35 minutes later) | |
A woman who regularly beat her newly-wed husband has been convicted of his murder by stabbing him through the heart. | A woman who regularly beat her newly-wed husband has been convicted of his murder by stabbing him through the heart. |
Sharon Edwards, 42, denied killing solicitor David Edwards at their home in Chorley, Lancashire, in August 2015. | Sharon Edwards, 42, denied killing solicitor David Edwards at their home in Chorley, Lancashire, in August 2015. |
The 51-year-old was found dead in bed with a chest wound, two months after the pair married in Las Vegas. | The 51-year-old was found dead in bed with a chest wound, two months after the pair married in Las Vegas. |
At Manchester Crown Court she was jailed for life and will serve at least 20 years. | At Manchester Crown Court she was jailed for life and will serve at least 20 years. |
Mr Justice William Davis told the Mrs Edwards she had a "bullying and violent nature" which had "robbed people of a decent man". | |
He added:"This deadly attack was the culmination of long-term bullying by you on this respected member of the community." | |
The court heard she was "domineering" and had given her husband a black eye before their wedding day. Mrs Edwards claimed he had hit himself in the face with a bedside phone in their Vegas hotel. | |
Jurors heard she "quite liked the idea of being a solicitor's wife" and was furious when Mr Edwards was told he was losing his job. | |
In a recording Mr Edwards had said: "Honey, you said to me I'd like to think that I could punch you and knock you out with a single punch, yeah? | In a recording Mr Edwards had said: "Honey, you said to me I'd like to think that I could punch you and knock you out with a single punch, yeah? |
"I've told you, you do punch rather hard don't you?" | "I've told you, you do punch rather hard don't you?" |
He was also heard to say: "We are going to have to refine the excuse for my eye, you know the garage door that we made up, that doesn't wash." | He was also heard to say: "We are going to have to refine the excuse for my eye, you know the garage door that we made up, that doesn't wash." |
During the trial, Anne Whyte QC, for the prosecution, described how Mr Edwards had been "under the thumb" and was "plainly besotted" after meeting his wife-to-be in June 2014. | During the trial, Anne Whyte QC, for the prosecution, described how Mr Edwards had been "under the thumb" and was "plainly besotted" after meeting his wife-to-be in June 2014. |
'Ex-partner's warning' | |
Debra Livesley, a former long-term partner of Mr Edwards told the court: "He said 'My life is hell down there, I'm living in hell'. I said 'You need to get out of the relationship, kick her out or leave her'. | |
"He said 'Trust me, I can't'. I said 'If you don't she is going to end up killing you'." | |
Her barrister, David Fish QC, said the mother-of-four was "at a very low ebb" and had "lost everything". | |
Rob Jansen, Senior Crown Prosecutor with Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service, said the case had all the "dreadful hallmarks" of domestic abuse. | |
He added: "This case is another in the sad catalogue of violent repressive relationships that seem to rob the victim of their power or ability to stop the violence." | |
Mark Brooks, chairman of Mankind, a charity for male victims of domestic abuse, said: "Because Mr Edwards was a solicitor it does show that it can happen to all men of all backgrounds from all professions." |