DAVID WILDER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER IN PLYMOUTH
David Wilder, aged 42, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Kerry Power at her Plymouth home in December of last year.The court was told that Wilder, who works as a bus driver, had been heavily intoxicated, having consumed six to eight pints of alcohol, before secretly entering Kerry Power's house late at night.
Wilder has a history of controlling and possessive behavior, including previous incidents such as breaking into his ex-wife's residence and assaulting her, although he was never prosecuted for these actions.
Despite his past, Wilder used a key he had obtained secretly to enter Kerry's home, where he ended her life by strangulation while her 10-year-old son Ollie was upstairs asleep and unaware of what was happening.
Ollie later recounted hearing his mother struggling for breath and seeing Wilder sleeping under a duvet with her, believing she was just asleep.
The next morning, Wilder contacted the police and confessed to the murder.
He pleaded guilty to killing Kerry, which happened after they had ended their relationship weeks earlier.
Wilder claimed he 'snapped' because he couldn't bear to see her go.
The judge commented that Wilder's behavior was driven by his inability to handle the breakup and his controlling tendencies.
Wilder was sentenced to serve a minimum of 17 years and six months before becoming eligible for parole, though release depends on his being deemed no longer a danger to the public.
An investigation revealed that Wilder had been stalking Kerry secretly, with police uncovering evidence of harassment and breaches of previous orders, leading to the case being referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Family members of Kerry, including her mother Stephanie Power and brother Steve, spoke about the profound grief caused by her death and Ollie's suffering.
Kerry Power was a mother, daughter, and dedicated professional who had recently begun a new relationship and was excited about Christmas with her son.
Her life was tragically cut short by Wilder’s violent actions, leaving her loved ones to mourn her loss and seek justice.
