NORTHAMPTON MAN JAILED FOR LIFE AFTER MURDERED WIFE IN THEIR HOME
A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of his wife, Diana Dafter, at their Northampton home.The 36-year-old woman sustained a total of 17 injuries, including five stab wounds, inflicted during the assault carried out by her husband, Phillip Dafter, aged 32.
Although Phillip admitted to manslaughter on grounds of loss of control and diminished responsibility, a jury found him guilty of murder.
The presiding judge, David Herbert KC, indicated that Dafter seemed to have intended to kill her, noting that he deliberately picked up a knife with apparent 'murderous intent.' After stabbing his wife, Dafter drove to a supermarket to buy more knives following the breakage of the weapon during a failed attempt at self-harm.
He then traveled to London’s Euston station, where police discovered him intoxicated and with ten stab wounds to his abdomen.
Dafter admitted to police that he was responsible for his wife’s death and was observed by the court to have stood by and watched her bleed without attempting to help.
The judge imposed a life sentence with a minimum of 20 years, alongside a separate minimum term of 20 years before he could apply for parole.
The court was told that their relationship was strained, partly due to mental health issues Dafter had endured since his mother’s passing in 2015, and that Dafter believed his wife 'failed to empathize' with him.
The court described the final moments of Diana’s life as ‘terrifying,’ condemning Dafter for his inaction during her last moments.
Northamptonshire Police conducted the investigation, emphasizing the profound loss of a caring, hardworking individual and highlighting broader concerns about domestic violence and mental health.
Her family and community mourn her tragic death, and the case raises awareness of issues related to domestic abuse and mental health challenges.
