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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Wife killer 'had attacked before' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man who murdered his wife while on licence from prison for wounding an ex-partner has been jailed for life. | |
| Simon Downer, 32, from Wilnecote, in Staffordshire, was convicted after his eight-year-old stepdaughter gave evidence against him during the trial. | Simon Downer, 32, from Wilnecote, in Staffordshire, was convicted after his eight-year-old stepdaughter gave evidence against him during the trial. |
| She managed to disarm him before he grabbed another knife and stabbed his 40-year-old wife Tracey last June. | She managed to disarm him before he grabbed another knife and stabbed his 40-year-old wife Tracey last June. |
| The Probation Service, which had supervised him, said there was "no indication" he posed a risk to Tracey. | |
| Downer was ordered by the judge at Birmingham Crown Court to serve a minimum of 20 years before being eligible for parole. | |
| Violent argument | Violent argument |
| The jury was told he had met his wife after absconding from an open prison in 2007 where he was serving a six-year sentence for wounding his ex-partner. | The jury was told he had met his wife after absconding from an open prison in 2007 where he was serving a six-year sentence for wounding his ex-partner. |
| He went back to jail and the couple married the day after he was released in April last year. | He went back to jail and the couple married the day after he was released in April last year. |
| Downer must serve at least 20 years before being considered for parole | |
| In video evidence to the court, his stepdaughter, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was woken up last June by the sound of a violent argument. | In video evidence to the court, his stepdaughter, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was woken up last June by the sound of a violent argument. |
| She saw her stepfather attacking her mother and managed to grab a knife from his hand. | She saw her stepfather attacking her mother and managed to grab a knife from his hand. |
| He then found another, larger, knife in the kitchen with which he murdered his wife. | He then found another, larger, knife in the kitchen with which he murdered his wife. |
| The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said Downer had told her mother: "That's what you get if you push it with me." | |
| The girl dialled 999 and told the operator: "My mum's just been stabbed - can you come?" | |
| A recording of the 999 call revealed she called a second time and repeated that her mother had been stabbed, before Downer came to the phone. | |
| He said there had been an accident and Tracey "was cooking and she was stabbed in the chest". | |
| 'Offending behaviour' | |
| West Midlands Probation Service said it had been in regular contact with the couple and there was "no indication" that he posed a risk to Mrs Downer. | |
| A spokesman said: "He undertook relevant programmes while in prison to address his offending behaviour. | A spokesman said: "He undertook relevant programmes while in prison to address his offending behaviour. |
| "He complied with all post-release licence requirements, including regular appointments for supervision by his offender manager. | "He complied with all post-release licence requirements, including regular appointments for supervision by his offender manager. |
| "Tracey Downer was aware of Simon Downer's previous conviction." | "Tracey Downer was aware of Simon Downer's previous conviction." |
| Don Knapper from the Crown Prosecution Service said after the verdict: "Downer denied stabbing his wife and offered an improbable suggestion that she stabbed herself whilst she was cooking. | |
| "Tracey's eight-year-old daughter discovered her mother injured on the sofa and it was her who contacted the emergency services. | |
| "The impact of that will be devastating and will no doubt stay with her for the rest of her life." |