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| Life term for drunken rage murder | Life term for drunken rage murder |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An alcoholic who stabbed his partner 177 times at her home in Pembrokeshire will spend at least 18 years behind bars, a judge has ruled. | |
| Arthur Pitt-Pladdy, 36, had claimed Kim Butler, 44, nagged him. She was left with the knife still in her neck after he stabbed her in a "drunken rage". | Arthur Pitt-Pladdy, 36, had claimed Kim Butler, 44, nagged him. She was left with the knife still in her neck after he stabbed her in a "drunken rage". |
| He was jailed for life at Swansea Crown Court after his conviction for murder. | He was jailed for life at Swansea Crown Court after his conviction for murder. |
| Mr Justice Lloyd Jones told Pitt-Pladdy his actions "ought to shame you and haunt you for the rest of your life". | Mr Justice Lloyd Jones told Pitt-Pladdy his actions "ought to shame you and haunt you for the rest of your life". |
| Ms Butler's family said the sentence would play a small part in helping them come to terms with her death. | Ms Butler's family said the sentence would play a small part in helping them come to terms with her death. |
| Pitt-Pladdy, a self-confessed chronic alcoholic and heroin addict, had been drinking extra-strong lager and taking drugs all day before the frenzied knife attack at the house they shared in Saundersfoot early on 13 August last year. | |
| He had denied murder but was found guilty by a jury last week. | He had denied murder but was found guilty by a jury last week. |
| Pitt-Pladdy, originally from London, had moved in with Ms Butler shortly after his release from prison several months before the murder. | Pitt-Pladdy, originally from London, had moved in with Ms Butler shortly after his release from prison several months before the murder. |
| Mr Justice Lloyd Jones said: "You have taken a life and you have done so in the most brutal manner. Kim was a very kind and caring person who will be sadly missed Ms Butler's family | |
| "Her premature and pointless death will leave a permanent shadow on the lives of her family and friends. | "Her premature and pointless death will leave a permanent shadow on the lives of her family and friends. |
| "Having been shown kindness by her, you abused it in the most shocking manner. | "Having been shown kindness by her, you abused it in the most shocking manner. |
| "The manner of her death was horrific. You lost your temper and you stabbed her to death with a knife you found in the kitchen. | "The manner of her death was horrific. You lost your temper and you stabbed her to death with a knife you found in the kitchen. |
| "It is likely that Kim Butler suffered terribly before she died and there was evidence she pleaded with you before she died, saying 'sorry' repeatedly. | "It is likely that Kim Butler suffered terribly before she died and there was evidence she pleaded with you before she died, saying 'sorry' repeatedly. |
| "There is no doubt that you intended to kill her and I accept that this killing was not premeditated. This was a case of murder committed by a man in a drunken rage." | "There is no doubt that you intended to kill her and I accept that this killing was not premeditated. This was a case of murder committed by a man in a drunken rage." |
| Mr Justice Lloyd Jones said he was anxious that it was made clear that the sentence represented the minimum term that Pitt-Pladdy would serve in prison. | Mr Justice Lloyd Jones said he was anxious that it was made clear that the sentence represented the minimum term that Pitt-Pladdy would serve in prison. |
| He said that, after that period, he would be eligible for parole, but whether or not he would be released would depend on the authorities' view. | He said that, after that period, he would be eligible for parole, but whether or not he would be released would depend on the authorities' view. |
| In a statement Ms Butler's family said: "Kim was a very kind and caring person who will be sadly missed. | In a statement Ms Butler's family said: "Kim was a very kind and caring person who will be sadly missed. |
| "The sentence today will, in a very small but positive way, help us come to terms with her death." | "The sentence today will, in a very small but positive way, help us come to terms with her death." |
| DCI Pam Kelly, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said: "This was a frenzied, savage attack on Kim Butler by her partner, Pitt-Pladdy. | DCI Pam Kelly, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said: "This was a frenzied, savage attack on Kim Butler by her partner, Pitt-Pladdy. |
| "The sentence today reflects the level of violence used." | "The sentence today reflects the level of violence used." |