Partner jailed for murdering mother of three

A partner who strangled and suffocated a mother of three to death and left her body to be found by her children has been jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years.

Samantha Murphy, 32, who was also known as Sammie or Sammie-Jo, was found dead at her home in Wadham Road, Portsmouth, on 5 June 2025.

Charlie Jeans, 31, of Margate Road, Southsea, pleaded guilty to murder on the sixth day of his trial at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Judge Adam Feest KC said the violence was "entirely unprovoked and unjustified" although he could not be sure the defendant's intention was to kill.

Jeans showed bouts of anger and jealous behaviour during the couple's "toxic" one-year relationship, the court heard.

Murphy began to cancel holidays at the last minute and came off social media, prosecutor Jo Martin KC told the court.

The mother of three was so concerned for her safety that she invoked Clare's Law, a statute which enables people to ask the police about a partner's history of violence or abuse, she added.

On 4 June, the couple argued after returning home from a pub, the court heard.

A neighbour heard Jeans say: "I'm going to [expletive] kill you," and screaming, Judge Feest said.

In pre-trial interviews, Jeans said he suddenly realised he was strangling her as they fell on to a sofa, although he could not remember what triggered his attack.

He told a psychiatrist: "I wanted the noise to stop. Everything - the ringing noise, her speaking, me speaking."

Afterwards, he removed a Ring doorbell camera and went into hiding for four days, the prosecutor said.

On 5 June, Murphy's daughters, aged 11 and nine, together with her seven-year-old son and their father, discovered her body.

Jeans, who has diagnoses of autism and emotionally unstable personality disorder, pleaded guilty to manslaughter before the trial.

He had 26 previous convictions for 68 crimes, including criminal damage and public order offences, the court heard.

Passing sentence, the judge said Jeans had used one hand to strangle Murphy and the other to cover her nose and mouth.

He said the relationship had "elements of control and coercion", adding that her children "will never again be able to enjoy her company or love".

In a victim personal statement, the children's father Brendan Gillem said his son had become "like my little shadow, making sure he does not lose his dad".

Murphy's mother, Denise Calver, read a statement outside the court, paying tribute to her "kind and loving daughter... best friend and sidekick".

She said: "Above all, she was a fiercely devoted mother to her three young children. They were her world.

"We will ensure they grow up knowing how much their mother adored them."