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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Life term for drunken rage murder | Life term for drunken rage murder |
| (1 day 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. | 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. | 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 | 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 she was pleased with the sentence. | |
| "During the court case it became clear that Kim had concerns for her safety and lived in fear of Pitt-Pladdy," she added. | |
| "We as a police service know how difficult it can be for victims of domestic abuse to seek help. | |
| "However we would like to reassure people that Dyfed-Powys Police has specially trained officers in place to deal with domestic abuse victims and offenders and encourage anyone who has concerns for their own safety or that of family and friends to contact us." |