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Paul Keene jailed for fiancée manslaughter | Paul Keene jailed for fiancée manslaughter |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man who killed the mother of his newborn child has been jailed for seven years and four months. | |
Paul Keene, 32, was sentenced at Bristol Magistrates' Court after being convicted last year of the manslaughter of his fiancée, Carmen Miron-Buchacra. | Paul Keene, 32, was sentenced at Bristol Magistrates' Court after being convicted last year of the manslaughter of his fiancée, Carmen Miron-Buchacra. |
He was found not guilty of her murder during the trial in December. | He was found not guilty of her murder during the trial in December. |
The judge, Mr Justice Eder, told Keene the sentence handed down reflected "the horrifying circumstances which you inflicted" on Miss Miron-Buchacra. | |
During the trial, the jury heard the attack - in which he strangled Miss Miron-Buchacra - was captured in a voicemail message on a friend's phone. | During the trial, the jury heard the attack - in which he strangled Miss Miron-Buchacra - was captured in a voicemail message on a friend's phone. |
Keene, an administrator for a financial services firm, and 28-year-old Miss Miron-Buchacra, known as Gaby, were planning to marry in her native Mexico later this year. | Keene, an administrator for a financial services firm, and 28-year-old Miss Miron-Buchacra, known as Gaby, were planning to marry in her native Mexico later this year. |
'Savage attack' | 'Savage attack' |
The PhD student was found dead on the bedroom floor of the couple's first-floor Georgian flat in Bath by emergency services on the night of June 23 last year. | The PhD student was found dead on the bedroom floor of the couple's first-floor Georgian flat in Bath by emergency services on the night of June 23 last year. |
Before the sentence was handed down, the court heard that it took 75 minutes for Keene to call police and the attack took place in front of the couple's baby. | Before the sentence was handed down, the court heard that it took 75 minutes for Keene to call police and the attack took place in front of the couple's baby. |
The judge said Gaby's death was probably caused by her being strangled with an electric cable. | The judge said Gaby's death was probably caused by her being strangled with an electric cable. |
"In a sustained, prolonged and savage attack you killed her," he said. | "In a sustained, prolonged and savage attack you killed her," he said. |
"It was a vicious attack that lasted several minutes; we know this because she had many injuries on her face, arms, body and legs." | "It was a vicious attack that lasted several minutes; we know this because she had many injuries on her face, arms, body and legs." |
The judge described Gaby as a "beautiful woman" and also addressed the volatile nature of the couple's relationship. | The judge described Gaby as a "beautiful woman" and also addressed the volatile nature of the couple's relationship. |
'Emotional abuse' | 'Emotional abuse' |
As the sentence was passed Keene lowered his head and wiped tears from his eyes. | As the sentence was passed Keene lowered his head and wiped tears from his eyes. |
Adam Vaitilingam QC, defending, told the court there was psychological bullying in their relationship. | Adam Vaitilingam QC, defending, told the court there was psychological bullying in their relationship. |
He said: "There was an intellectual imbalance which resulted on Mr Keene being belittled by the deceased. | He said: "There was an intellectual imbalance which resulted on Mr Keene being belittled by the deceased. |
"We would say this was a period of low-level emotional abuse; it went on for considerable periods. This culminated in the threat to take away a child. | "We would say this was a period of low-level emotional abuse; it went on for considerable periods. This culminated in the threat to take away a child. |
"You saw the text messages passed between them; he was trying to be pleasant and her sending him pretty vile texts in response. This all led to that fatal moment." | "You saw the text messages passed between them; he was trying to be pleasant and her sending him pretty vile texts in response. This all led to that fatal moment." |
The judge said that he accepted the threat to take away the daughter, and the cumulative effect of emotional abuse by Gaby over a significant period, caused Keene to lose control. | The judge said that he accepted the threat to take away the daughter, and the cumulative effect of emotional abuse by Gaby over a significant period, caused Keene to lose control. |
After the passing of the sentence, the family of Gaby said there was "no right or wrong" in the decision taken. | |
A statement said: "We must respect what the justice system has ordered because at the end of the day, each one of us will have to live with the consequences of our own actions." |