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Nigel Roach gets life for trying to kill partner | Nigel Roach gets life for trying to kill partner |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man has been jailed for life for the attempted murder of his partner in Cardiff. | A man has been jailed for life for the attempted murder of his partner in Cardiff. |
Nigel Roach, 49, broke into Christine Lewis's home in Llanrumney last August and tried to stab her with two kitchen knives before being Tasered by police. | Nigel Roach, 49, broke into Christine Lewis's home in Llanrumney last August and tried to stab her with two kitchen knives before being Tasered by police. |
Ms Lewis, 48, told Cardiff Crown Court: "I really thought he was going to kill me." | Ms Lewis, 48, told Cardiff Crown Court: "I really thought he was going to kill me." |
Speaking after the case, police praised her bravery and said she had been through a "truly terrible ordeal". | |
The trial was told that Roach tried to murder his partner of 16 years after seeing text messages from a male colleague. | The trial was told that Roach tried to murder his partner of 16 years after seeing text messages from a male colleague. |
He launched the attack after a £400 drinking binge, the court heard. | |
Ms Lewis, who dialled 999 during the incident, suffered wounds to her left shoulder and arm, chest and hands during the frenzied attack. | |
Roach told jurors he was trying to "show her some pain" and had no intention of killing her. | |
But Judge Eleri Rees described it as a "frenzied and determined attack" which could have been a lot worse had it not been for Ms Lewis "fighting for her life" and the swift action of police. | |
'Mental abuse' | |
Roach will have to serve a minimum of eight and half years before he can apply for parole. | |
Speaking after the case, Ms Lewis said that she had suffered mental abuse from Roach for many years. | |
"It had been going on for a long time," she said. "He was drinking too much and I didn't do anything about it." | |
Lisa James, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Wales, said after the hearing that Roach attacked Ms Lewis in the "most horrific and violent manner". | |
"Following his arrest, Roach sought to downplay the seriousness of what he had done," she said. | |
"But Christine's brave testimony, coupled with the truly shocking evidence from her 999 call, told the true story of what took place." | |
Also speaking after the case, Det Sgt Chris Grey from South Wales Police said: "Christine is an incredibly brave woman and has gone through a truly terrible ordeal. | |
"I hope today's sentencing will bring some sort of closure for her and her family. | "I hope today's sentencing will bring some sort of closure for her and her family. |
"I also hope that other women, who may also be in abusive relationships, can have the courage to come forward and talk to the police." | "I also hope that other women, who may also be in abusive relationships, can have the courage to come forward and talk to the police." |
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