Man who stabbed wife 78 times jailed for 20 years

A man who murdered his wife by stabbing her at least 78 times has been jailed for a life with a minimum term of 20 years.

Robert Alexander was married to nurse Christina Alexander, 60, for about six years before he killed her at their home in Tamworth, Staffordshire, on 23 June 2025.

He was found guilty of her murder by a jury in June and the prosecutors said he had showed controlling and violent behaviour throughout the relationship, which started after the couple met online.

The 66-year-old, of Ascot Drive, Tamworth, was told by a judge at Stafford Crown Court on Tuesday he would serve a minimum of 18 years and 298 days in prison because of time already spent on remand.

A trial previously heard Alexander told police he had "disposed" of his wife after attacking her in the hallway and kitchen.

She was also strangled and struck on the head with a tin, suffering "catastrophic" injuries to her face, neck, body, arms and legs, the jury was told.

During Tuesday's hearing, Judge Avik Mukherjee said Christina had been subjected to a "repeated and sustained" attack.

He told Alexander the evidence showed he was aware his partner was planning to leave him.

"I am sure that you intended to kill Christina due to the extent of the injuries that you inflicted upon her and also the ways in which you attacked her," Mukherjee said.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Alexander was previously convicted of battery after police were called on 13 September 2020 because he had placed his wife in a chokehold.

He had told police his main concern was that she knew his bank card PIN, a spokesperson added.

The nurse told officers in June 2021 she was living under a "constant threat of violence", the CPS said.

She had begun taking steps to leave her husband by 2025, consulting a solicitor and making financial arrangements to live independently.

The CPS said dashcam footage from her car captured her telling her sister: "I'll probably be dead before then."

Alexander harmed himself twice in the weeks before the murder and psychiatric experts later said his actions were intended to manipulate or control his victim.

He was discharged from hospital, where he was taken after the second incident, and days later killed Christina at their home in the Dosthill area of Tamworth.

Before the sentencing, personal impact statements were read to the court on behalf of Christina's family and friends.

"The taking of a life is a terrible thing – not only because of the life which is cut short but because of all the other lives that are damaged as well," the judge said.

He told Alexander there was no guarantee he would be released at the end of his minimum term, or any time thereafter.

The judge also ruled the murder was committed against a background of controlling and coercive behaviour, in particular in relation to finances.

Following the hearing, the victim's brother Neil said she had "just wanted to help people" throughout her life.

"From a young age, she wanted to follow in our mother's footsteps and become a nurse," he added.

"We have been trying our hardest to remember all the happy memories of my sister, she was always there for all her brothers and sisters.

"Robert can cowardly take away my sister's life but he can never take away our memories."

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.