Telford man Peter Tripp, 70, jailed for wife's stab murder

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-39102605

Version 0 of 1.

A 70-year-old man who stabbed his wife to death has been jailed.

Peter Tripp earlier pleaded guilty to murdering wife Belen, 52, at their Telford home.

Mrs Tripp was pronounced dead at the scene, after emergency crews were called to their home on Sixth Avenue in Ketley Bank, on 15 November last year.

Appearing at Stafford Crown Court, Tripp was sentenced to a life term and the judge told him he would serve a minimum of 13 years in jail.

Following Mrs Tripp's death, her family said she was a loving sister, sister-in-law and auntie and "source of great joy and laughter" whom the Filipino community in Telford would never forget.

More updates on this and other stories in Shropshire

The statement added the family had been devastated by her death.

Det Insp Mark Bellamy said: "Belen Tripp suffered horrific abuse at the end of her life, at the hands of her husband.

"We hope that the jail sentence handed to Peter Tripp gives some comfort to Belen's family who have had to come to terms with the loss of Belen in the most painful way."

He praised her courage for calling for help despite suffering "tremendous abuse" and paying the "ultimate" price.

"Nobody should suffer such violence at the hands of a family member. I urge anyone suffering domestic violence and abuse to seek help."