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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Christmas Day murder: Man jailed for Charmaine Macmuiris stabbing | Christmas Day murder: Man jailed for Charmaine Macmuiris stabbing |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| A man has been jailed for life for the "vicious and brutal" murder of his girlfriend of three weeks, who was found dead on Christmas Day. | A man has been jailed for life for the "vicious and brutal" murder of his girlfriend of three weeks, who was found dead on Christmas Day. |
| David Thomas O'Sullivan, 28, stabbed mother-of-three Charmaine Macmuiris, 37, to death at his Carmarthen home before going to the pub and returning to eat pizza. | David Thomas O'Sullivan, 28, stabbed mother-of-three Charmaine Macmuiris, 37, to death at his Carmarthen home before going to the pub and returning to eat pizza. |
| He admitted murder at Swansea Crown Court and must serve at least 14 years. | He admitted murder at Swansea Crown Court and must serve at least 14 years. |
| The court heard he wrongly believed she was seeing another man behind his back. | The court heard he wrongly believed she was seeing another man behind his back. |
| In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mrs Macmuiris's mother Christine said: "She was taken in the most cruellest of ways on the most cruellest of days." | In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mrs Macmuiris's mother Christine said: "She was taken in the most cruellest of ways on the most cruellest of days." |
| The court was told that Mrs Macmuiris, also from Carmarthen, had been wrapping presents for her children before bricklayer O'Sullivan persuaded her to go for a drink on Christmas Eve. | The court was told that Mrs Macmuiris, also from Carmarthen, had been wrapping presents for her children before bricklayer O'Sullivan persuaded her to go for a drink on Christmas Eve. |
| During the course of the evening, they began to disagree with each other and Mrs Macmuiris chose to leave when O'Sullivan threw a part-full pint glass over her. | During the course of the evening, they began to disagree with each other and Mrs Macmuiris chose to leave when O'Sullivan threw a part-full pint glass over her. |
| But the pair were later spotted on CCTV walking towards O'Sullivan's home. | But the pair were later spotted on CCTV walking towards O'Sullivan's home. |
| The court heard how he later punched her in the face in the lounge before knifing her at least 10 times in the bedroom. | The court heard how he later punched her in the face in the lounge before knifing her at least 10 times in the bedroom. |
| He left her bleeding to death while her daughter sent a text pleading for her mother to come back home for Christmas. | He left her bleeding to death while her daughter sent a text pleading for her mother to come back home for Christmas. |
| Police officers went to the house after hearing reports of a disturbance but O'Sullivan told them "everything was OK". | Police officers went to the house after hearing reports of a disturbance but O'Sullivan told them "everything was OK". |
| It was only the next day - Christmas Day - that police were called after O'Sullivan's parents arrived at his home. | It was only the next day - Christmas Day - that police were called after O'Sullivan's parents arrived at his home. |
| Prosecutor Patrick Harrington QC said it was clear that there were "strong indications there was more than one assault". | Prosecutor Patrick Harrington QC said it was clear that there were "strong indications there was more than one assault". |
| "After, he left the home and went to two pubs and drank lager and bought a pizza - he returned to the address of the murder and ate his pizza," he added. | |
| Threatening messages | Threatening messages |
| The court heard that after only three weeks of dating, O'Sullivan had managed to convince himself Mrs Macmuiris was cheating on him with a male friend. | The court heard that after only three weeks of dating, O'Sullivan had managed to convince himself Mrs Macmuiris was cheating on him with a male friend. |
| He sent threatening text messages to the man and his family on the night of the murder. | He sent threatening text messages to the man and his family on the night of the murder. |
| The court heard that Mrs Macmuiris had been looking forward to celebrating Christmas with her three children, Hannah, 20, Ruby, 15, and Keilan, 12, and toddler granddaughter Pixie. | The court heard that Mrs Macmuiris had been looking forward to celebrating Christmas with her three children, Hannah, 20, Ruby, 15, and Keilan, 12, and toddler granddaughter Pixie. |
| In a victim impact statement, her mother said: "Charmaine has been robbed of her life. | In a victim impact statement, her mother said: "Charmaine has been robbed of her life. |
| "She was a much loved mother, daughter, sister and auntie and we have been devastated by her lose and the shocking manner of her death." | "She was a much loved mother, daughter, sister and auntie and we have been devastated by her lose and the shocking manner of her death." |
| O'Sullivan had initially pleaded not guilty to murder but had changed his plea at the start of his trial on Monday. | O'Sullivan had initially pleaded not guilty to murder but had changed his plea at the start of his trial on Monday. |
| Judge Eleri Rees told him: "This was a vicious and brutal killing. | Judge Eleri Rees told him: "This was a vicious and brutal killing. |
| "There may have been more than one assault - there is physical evidence of a struggle with blood stains in a variety of locations. | "There may have been more than one assault - there is physical evidence of a struggle with blood stains in a variety of locations. |
| "You used a kitchen knife to attack Charmaine and death would not have been instantaneous or the result of any one wound or blow. | "You used a kitchen knife to attack Charmaine and death would not have been instantaneous or the result of any one wound or blow. |
| "At some point her daughter tried to text her mother and you tried to respond but in a clumsy mistake you sent a text to another person. | "At some point her daughter tried to text her mother and you tried to respond but in a clumsy mistake you sent a text to another person. |
| "This was the most callous behaviour to show to someone who you purported to love." | "This was the most callous behaviour to show to someone who you purported to love." |
| 'Awful consequences' | 'Awful consequences' |
| Speaking after the case, Ed Beltrami, chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales, said: "Today, David O'Sullivan finally admitted his responsibility for a senseless and brutal assault that led to the tragic death of Charmaine Macmuiris. | Speaking after the case, Ed Beltrami, chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales, said: "Today, David O'Sullivan finally admitted his responsibility for a senseless and brutal assault that led to the tragic death of Charmaine Macmuiris. |
| "Only O'Sullivan himself can truly know what caused him to carry out such a vicious attack on an entirely innocent victim. | "Only O'Sullivan himself can truly know what caused him to carry out such a vicious attack on an entirely innocent victim. |
| "What is certain is that those close to Charmaine continue to deal with the truly awful consequences of what he did." | "What is certain is that those close to Charmaine continue to deal with the truly awful consequences of what he did." |
| Mr Beltrami said O'Sullivan's guilty plea meant the victim's family had been spared a full criminal trial process, but added: "We are acutely aware that today's outcome will not bring an end to their sense of loss." | Mr Beltrami said O'Sullivan's guilty plea meant the victim's family had been spared a full criminal trial process, but added: "We are acutely aware that today's outcome will not bring an end to their sense of loss." |
| Det Ch Insp Greg Williams, of Dyfed-Powys Police said: "To lose someone is always difficult but even more so on such a significant day. | Det Ch Insp Greg Williams, of Dyfed-Powys Police said: "To lose someone is always difficult but even more so on such a significant day. |
| "I welcome today's conviction and hope that it can be used to bring some closure to those deeply touched by the untimely loss of a loved one." | "I welcome today's conviction and hope that it can be used to bring some closure to those deeply touched by the untimely loss of a loved one." |
| But in a statement, Mrs Macmuiris' family said they did not feel that a minimum term of 14 years" reflects the severity of what he has done". | But in a statement, Mrs Macmuiris' family said they did not feel that a minimum term of 14 years" reflects the severity of what he has done". |
| "We are all still devastated at losing Charmaine," they added. | "We are all still devastated at losing Charmaine," they added. |