Brute husband attacked his spouse with a hammer then burned her alive

A person has been sentenced to life imprisonment after he brutally attacked his spouse with a hammer after which set her on hearth of their automotive.

Helen Clarke, 77, tragically died from her accidents after being rushed to hospital with extreme burns following her husband David Clarke’s horrific actions. Clarke, 80, from Higher Lane, Langland, Swansea, admitted to murdering his spouse of over 50 years when he appeared at Swansea Crown Court in December.

The courtroom heard how Clarke despatched his son David a message saying ‘I like you’ on the morning of September 22 earlier than CCTV captured him and Mrs Clarke leaving their house in Langland, Swansea. Mrs Clarke informed the emergency providers who arrived swiftly on the scene that Clarke “hit me on the head with a sledge hammer”, doused her in paraffin and set her alight WalesOn-line experiences.

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The courtroom heard that the couple had been married for 53 years, having met by the Catholic Church, and lived in Africa the place Clarke labored as {an electrical} engineer earlier than transferring to Swansea. Clarke confessed to his son David about an affair he had whereas dwelling in Africa, believing he had a toddler from that relationship. He messaged the lady, recognized solely as “L”, whom he had an affair with, telling her he would at all times love her “to excess”. The courtroom heard that Clarke grew to become “fixated” with the thought of getting grandchildren in Australia, the place “L” resided, main him and Mrs Clarke to fly there.

While in Australia, the couple met “L” and her husband, however Mrs Clarke was unaware of the affair. It was both on the airport earlier than their return house or in the course of the flight that Clarke revealed his affair to his spouse – an act the decide mentioned Clarke did “in spite” after being rejected. Their son David, who picked up his mother and father days earlier than Mrs Clarke’s dying, observed their relationship was “strained” however had no particular considerations.

John Hipkin KC, defending, mentioned a psychiatric report recognized Clarke as having “adjustment disorder”, however clarified that this does not show a defence of diminished duty. He added that Clarke had no earlier convictions and pleaded responsible early within the proceedings. The barrister acknowledged that his consumer liked Mrs Clarke and had cared for his household for a few years.

Judge Paul Thomas KC informed Clarke he knew his actions would trigger his spouse “unimaginable pain and suffering”. The decide famous that the explanations for Clarke’s “bizarre” behaviour have been unclear, however the public location of the homicide and Clarke’s makes an attempt to forestall folks from saving his spouse have been vital components.

The decide acknowledged that the one sentence for homicide is life in jail. With a one-sixth low cost for his responsible plea, Clarke was sentenced to life with a minimal time period of 21 years and eight months.

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