A sales manager has admitted murdering his churchgoing wife on the day he was due to stand trial for the crime.
Jealous Paul Knight strangled his wife – 32-year-old Isobella ‘Izzy’ Knight – inside their home in Donnington Road, Burton Latimer, while their two daughters lay in bed asleep.
The following morning, he asked his mother to look after their two daughters, claiming he and Mrs Knight were unwell.
Once the daughters were collected from the family’s home, he made unsuccessful attempts to end his own life before leaving the property and crashing his car in the car park of the nearby McDonald’s restaurant.
Knight had previously admitted the manslaughter of the beloved mother and daughter but had denied murdering his wife at their home in June last year.
But this morning, as a two week trial had been due to start, the 36-year-old changed his plea to guilty.
Knight, an area sales manager for a pottery business, kept his head bowed during a brief hearing.
It was attended by multiple members of both Knight’s and his wife’s family.
His barrister, John Lloyd-Jones KC explained to Northampton Crown Court that he had met with his client before Christmas and he had decided to admit murder.
Mr Lloyd-Jones said: ‘He has never denied that he unlawfully killed the victim in this case.
‘He pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the first opportunity.
Isobella ‘Izzy’ Knight was described as ‘beautiful, inside and out’ by her family
Paul Knight had previously admitted the manslaughter of the beloved mother and daughter
The body of churchgoer Izzy Knight, 32, was discovered by police at the semi-detached home she shared in Northamptonshire with husband Paul and their two daughters
‘The events of that night have been a source of huge anguish for him as, of course he accepts, they have been for a very large number of other people.’
Mr Lloyd-Jones then asked that the count of murder could be put to his client again.
As the clerk read the charge, Knight looked down and then replied ‘guilty’.
Her Honour Judge Adrienne Lucking warned Knight that there was only one sentence she could pass, that of life imprisonment, but that she must decide the minimum amount of time he will serve before he becomes eligible for parole.
Judge Lucking added: ‘I commend the dignity and calm displayed in the court room today.’
The Knights lived with their two young daughters on a modern estate in in Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire.
It emerged at the time of the death in June that Mrs Knight’s body was discovered by police at the address after officers attended the property while investigating a car crashing into a nearby McDonald’s restaurant car park.
Northamptonshire Police said today that the officers who responded to the collision found the driver – Knight – behaving oddly and made the decision to search his home.
Knight will be sentenced at the end of this month
A police officer stands guard outside the family’s home, where Mrs Knight’s body was discovered
Knight was then arrested and subsequently charged with murder.
No further details of the events of that day were revealed in court this morning.
A post-mortem examination found Mrs Knight had died as a result of pressure being applied to her neck.
At the time of the murder, a neighbour on the small modern housing estate where the couple lived told the Daily Mail that the couple had been heard ‘arguing quite a bit’.
In the days following Mrs Knight’s death, her family described her as ‘beautiful, inside and out’.
‘I want everyone to know that Izzy was so much more than a victim,’ her mother Helena wrote.
Mrs Knight, who had two young daughters, encouraged them to ‘find their talents, and now as her family we will keep her memory alive for them’, her father said
‘She was a loving mother, a treasured daughter, a best friend in sister form, a talented artist, and a great friend.
‘She laughed, she cried, she worked tirelessly to provide for her children, she had dreams, and she loved hard…we will make sure her girls grow up knowing what an incredible person she was.’
Her father Tim added: ‘When I think of Izzy, it’s as a mum. She was wonderful, she just shone.
‘She encouraged her children to find their talents, and now as her family we will keep her memory alive for them.
‘We will stand side by side and say to them ‘this is your mum, and she was brilliant and wonderful, and she loved you so much’, just the way I have always loved her.’
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Torie Harrison from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit Major Crime Team, said today: ‘This is a tragic case of violence against a woman who had everything to live for and I am pleased Paul Knight has finally decided to tell the truth and admit to his wife’s murder.
‘It is clear to see through the words written by her parents that Izzy was an incredible woman with so many positive qualities and so many reasons to live.
‘Her life was cut short by a man fuelled by jealousy and thoughts only for himself. He has left two daughters without a mother and there is no sentence that could ever make up for that.
‘I am glad that Izzy’s family do not now have to go through further pain in the form of a trial and my thoughts remain with them at what continues to be a very difficult time.’
Knight will be sentenced on January 29.
Rachael Newman from Burton Latimer Baptist Church said at the time of the murder: ‘Izzy was the loveliest person, just an amazing, genuine friendly woman who never stopped smiling.
‘She was also a wonderful mother.
‘Izzy would come to the church and the library regularly with her two daughters.
‘Why this has happened, we don’t know. She never mentioned anything about her relationship.
‘Myself and others at the church only found out about the news yesterday and we are all absolutely devastated.
‘All we can do is offer help and support to Izzy’s friends, family and anyone who needs it.’
Ms Newman made the heartfelt comments as she left a bouquet of flowers on the front lawn of the Knights’ home, adding to a pile of floral tributes.