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| Judge told of murder 'nightmare' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The mother of a woman murdered by her boyfriend, has told a trial judge how her death has destroyed her life. | |
| Joy Wilkinson, 33, was killed by her partner Thomas Pearson, 36, as she slept. He admitted murder and was jailed for life at Cardiff Crown Court. | Joy Wilkinson, 33, was killed by her partner Thomas Pearson, 36, as she slept. He admitted murder and was jailed for life at Cardiff Crown Court. |
| Before he was sentenced, her mother Patricia Nelson told the judge, how her death had affected her life. | Before he was sentenced, her mother Patricia Nelson told the judge, how her death had affected her life. |
| Five UK courts are taking part in a pilot scheme giving victims' families the chance to make an impact statement. | |
| When I had to identify her body I kept thinking it was a nightmare but our pain and destruction had just begun Patricia Nelson | When I had to identify her body I kept thinking it was a nightmare but our pain and destruction had just begun Patricia Nelson |
| Ms Nelson told the court: "The pain I am feeling has destroyed me." | Ms Nelson told the court: "The pain I am feeling has destroyed me." |
| "Joy had a great sense of humour and everyone was touched by her generosity and spirit. | "Joy had a great sense of humour and everyone was touched by her generosity and spirit. |
| "She was my confidant and my soul mate and when I became disabled she was my carer. | "She was my confidant and my soul mate and when I became disabled she was my carer. |
| "I would tell her all my fears and worries. | "I would tell her all my fears and worries. |
| "When I had to identify her body I kept thinking it was a nightmare but our pain and destruction had just begun." | "When I had to identify her body I kept thinking it was a nightmare but our pain and destruction had just begun." |
| 'Stabbed' | 'Stabbed' |
| The court heard how police had been called to her daughter's flat in Maindee, Newport, south Wales, during pervious violent incidents. | The court heard how police had been called to her daughter's flat in Maindee, Newport, south Wales, during pervious violent incidents. |
| Ms Wilkinson was said to be preparing to leave Pearson, who had problems with alcohol abuse and was unemployed, to move in with her sister. | Ms Wilkinson was said to be preparing to leave Pearson, who had problems with alcohol abuse and was unemployed, to move in with her sister. |
| However, she was killed before she got the chance. | However, she was killed before she got the chance. |
| She was sleeping and never knew what happened Nicholas Gareth Jones, prosecuting | She was sleeping and never knew what happened Nicholas Gareth Jones, prosecuting |
| The court heard how Pearson was four times over the legal driving limit when he plunged the knife into her chest. | The court heard how Pearson was four times over the legal driving limit when he plunged the knife into her chest. |
| Prosecutor Nicholas Gareth Jones said: "He went to the kitchen, got a 12in bread knife and went to the bedroom where he stabbed her once in the chest. | Prosecutor Nicholas Gareth Jones said: "He went to the kitchen, got a 12in bread knife and went to the bedroom where he stabbed her once in the chest. |
| "She was sleeping and never knew what happened." | "She was sleeping and never knew what happened." |
| The court heard Pearson then went next door and told his neighbours what he had done. | The court heard Pearson then went next door and told his neighbours what he had done. |
| Mr Jones said: "It is clear from what he said to the neighbours that he wanted to kill her and he wanted her to die." | Mr Jones said: "It is clear from what he said to the neighbours that he wanted to kill her and he wanted her to die." |
| Pearson admitted murder and was jailed for life with the recommendation that the earliest he can be released is in 12 years. | Pearson admitted murder and was jailed for life with the recommendation that the earliest he can be released is in 12 years. |