Man jailed for 'brutal mutilation' of his wife (PICTURES)
The knife which Richardson used on his wife, Sarah, and then later on himself.
-
THIS is the knife murderer Edward Richardson used to stab his estranged wife 13 times.
****Best Deals**** Van Insurance for 17-24 Yr Old Drivers - Contact Insure365 on 01782 898188
Terms: 1 Voucher Per Customer
Contact: 01782 898188
Valid until: Friday, July 19 2013
The 41-year-old had smashed his way into his in-laws' home before using the carving knife to kill Sarah Richardson in the bedroom of her parents' Biddulph home.
The attack was so vicious some of the stab wounds broke the 26-year-old's ribs and punctured her liver and aorta.
Now father-of-two Richardson has been jailed for life after a jury at Stafford Crown Court took less than three hours to convict him of murder.
Judge Simon Tonking ordered Richardson, of Mayfield Road, Biddulph, to serve at least 18 years behind bars for the "brutal mutilation" of Sandbach hairdresser Sarah on May 12.
Sarah and Edward Richardson.
Judge Tonking told him: "Whatever might have been in your mind before you entered that bedroom, the point came when you did intend to kill your wife.
"You subjected her to an attack which involved 13 stab wounds and 39 separate lacerations. It was an act of brutal mutilation.
"The effect of that act was to devastate an entire family, her parents, her brothers, her sister in law and young nieces.
"Her parents called her 'the light of their life'. By killing her in their home, you have violated their home of 40 years, where now, as far as Sarah's bedroom is concerned, they cannot bring themselves to go."
The court heard the couple had separated three weeks before the murder after arguments about the amount of money being spent on cocaine and Richardson's refusal to have children with Sarah.
But Richardson realised he had made a mistake and desperately wanted her back only for Sarah to change her Facebook status to single.
Police cordon of the murder scene on Lyndhurst Drive, Biddulph
That was enough for Richardson to go Lyndhurst Drive in his van, with a knife and strips of black tape to muffle the sound of breaking glass. After murdering Sarah, Richardson drove to a field and used the same knife to slash his wrists and throat.
Emergency services found Richardson in Fence Lane, Congleton, 40 minutes after the attack.
Detective Inspector Andy Wall, who led the police inquiry, said: "Richardson had stopped a passer-by and asked them to call the police. He was taken to hospital and later arrested.
"During interviews he told police he knew he had stabbed his wife but couldn't remember the exact details of the assault.
"When he learned his wife had died he was upset.
"Mr Richardson was under an element of stress due to the break up of his marriage.
"But what he did was a brutal and calculated act."
Following yesterday's sentence, Fiona Cortese, from CPS Staffordshire, said: "Richardson became enraged when Sarah changed her marital status on Facebook to single and decided to go and see her.
"Once inside he found Sarah in her bedroom and subjected her to a frenzied and brutal attack with a knife and then attempted to take his own life."
Comments