Husband who told police he 'disposed' of his wife after stabbing her 77 times is jailed for life

A husband who told police he had "disposed" of his wife after stabbing her 77 times has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years.

Robert Alexander also strangled nurse Christina Alexander, 60, and struck her with a dog food can at their home in the Dosthill area of Tamworth, Staffordshire, in June last year.

Jurors unanimously convicted the 66-year-old of murder in June this year.

The trial at Stafford Crown Court heard the victim suffered "catastrophic" injuries to her face, neck, body, arms and legs.

Alexander claimed in court that his wife had reached for a knife first and that he had acted in self-defence.

After killing his wife, he changed his clothes, put the bins out, and sat in the lounge with his dogs before calling 999.

"It's all to do with money, dictating to me how I spend my inheritance," he told police.

"She came into my life about eight years ago with nothing."

Jurors heard Alexander previously put his wife in a headlock, strangled her and bit her cheek.

He also threatened to kill a neighbour when they heard what was going on.

In another incident in June 2021, Mrs Alexander phoned 999 because she was frightened after her husband picked up an iron bar and waved it at her.

She told police she was living under the constant threat of violence from her husband.

It led to him being issued with a domestic violence protection order.

Sentencing Alexander on Tuesday, Judge Avik Mukherjee told him the evidence in the case showed he was aware that his partner was planning to leave him.

She was subjected to a "repeated and sustained" assault, the judge said.

"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," he said.

Personal impact statements read to the court on behalf of the victim's siblings and circle of friends were extremely moving, the judge said.

"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," he added.

Warwickshire Police's senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Charlotte Naughton said: "This was a devastating incident, where Christina's life was violently ended too soon.

"No sentence will bring Christina back, however I hope our investigation is able to provide some closure to Christina's loved ones."

(c) Sky News 2026: Husband who told police he 'disposed' of his wife after stabbing her 77 times is jailed for lif