Sons watched father kill mother

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/cornwall/6526189.stm

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A Cornish man who strangled his estranged wife in front of their two young sons must spend at least 15 years behind bars, a judge has ruled.

Anthony Wayne Mundy, 43, was jailed for life in September 2003 for strangling Janine Mundy then hanging her body from a stairwell by a noose.

Mrs Justice Dobbs, sitting at the High Court in London, set the minimum term which must be served by Mundy.

The judge said the family wanted as long a sentence as possible.

At Plymouth Crown Court Mundy had admitted killing his wife of 15 years.

'Cold-blooded ruthlessness'

The murder at the family home in Moor Street, Camborne, Cornwall, in June 2003 came just 16 days after he had been arrested on suspicion of attempting to drown his 34-year-old wife in the bath. He had been released on bail.

After strangling her he tried to fake her suicide by hanging her from a stairwell, again in the presence of their sons, then aged eight and 10.

Mrs Justice Dobbs said a letter from the grandparents said the two boys "are still worried that their father will 'get them' because they told the police about what had happened".

"The family are constantly reminded of their loss and they have suffered from the strain," she added.

Their plea "is for as long a sentence as possible for the protection of all".