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DOUBLE MURDER: "Spare a thought" for their little boy
LITTLE Daniel Wheatley is only three years old, too young to understand what has happened.
But in time he will grow up to learn his mother was murdered in cold blood by a father too jealous and possessive to allow her to live.
His father - brutal double killer David Mirfin - refused to accept his guilt throughout, forcing his victim's families to relive their loved ones' horrific last moments in graphic detail.
From the moment he was arrested, four hours after the frenzied killings, he claimed the murders were committed by two masked intruders.
He maintained his fanciful story throughout the trial, claiming he panicked after being attacked by a madman with a knife - and said he fled leaving Jane still alive and uninjured.
Dramatic collapse at court as victims' families weep
Police shocked by attack
Mirfin, who has two older daughters from a previous relationship, spent five years living with an ex-partner in Germany before returning to Sheffield and meeting Jane Wheatley in 1999.
The pair began a relationship in 2003, when they went on holiday to India, and in August 2004 their son Daniel was born. But it was after his birth that the relationship began to fall apart.
Mirfin's father Denis told the court Jane was the first woman for whom his son had ever shown any emotion.
Following several break-ups Mirfin, who suffered depression and was waiting to see a psychotherapist, moved back to his flat in Low Edges. He had been taking anti-depressants but stopped, relying instead on herbal remedies.
When Mirfin discovered Jane had been contacting men via internet dating sites he became jealous and possessive.
He claimed he was concerned for Daniel's safety and didn't want her meeting strangers.
The court heard he hacked into her account, sent threatening text messages, and made phone calls to four men with whom Jane had made contact, warning them off.
He made derogatory comments about his ex-partner, turned up on a date she'd arranged, and even sent an unflattering picture message to one potential suitor. At a party in Nether Edge, he threatened to kill a man who was dancing with Jane.
But it was when Jane started seeing neighbour Gary Gardiner in September that Mirfin's jealousy spiralled out of control.
Mirfin claimed in court he and Gary were friendly with one another and had engaged in conversation about failing relationships.
But on Bonfire Night 2007, after discovering Gary and Jane in the house together at Wath Road, David Mirfin finally lost his temper and knifed the couple to death.
DCI David Powell, from South Yorkshire Police's major incident team, said: "Jane leaves behind a three-year-old son who has lost not only his mum but his father. We should all spare a thought for this little boy and hope that with the love, compassion and care displayed to him by family and friends he will come through this as painlessly as possible."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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