Jilted South Yorkshire husband butchered his wife to death with a machete in horrific attack

Sheffield Crown Court heard on October 2 how Craig Woodhall, aged 41, of Windsor Crescent, Middlecliffe, Barnsley, brutally slashed and stabbed his 31-year-old wife Victoria Woodhall to death after he had chased her into the street.

James Hill, prosecuting, said: “The defendant opened the front door dressed only in a pair of shorts, otherwise naked, and he was brandishing a knife and chased her away from the house and into the road.”

Mr Hill added Victoria had been visiting the matrimonial home following their separation after the defendant had been possessive and controlling and she had started a new relationship.

Victoria had visted the property but had been refused entry and she began messaging friends and filming through the window via Facebook. The court also heard the attack was captured on CCTV.

Mr Hill said: “The defendant could be seen to step away on two occasions as Victoria lay bleeding to death before returning again to deliver more blows.”

The court heard the defendant drove away to his mother’s and told her what he had done before he left and flagged down a police car and handed himself in.

Woodhall, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to murder and to possessing a bladed article in public after the attack on March 29.

Victoria’s father, Mr Mason, told the court: “Craig Woodhall has robbed us of our beautiful and talented daughter.”

He told Woodhall: “You have not only destroyed our family but also your own. No sentence you receive from this court will bring her back.”

Victoria’s aunty, Karen Ibbotson, stated: “Society is poorer for her unnecessary death.”

Andrew O’Byrne, defending, said: “Mercifully and through luck rather than judgement - terrible and brutal as it was – it concluded very quickly.”

Mr O’Byrne said there had been a lack of premeditation and Craig Woodhall had lost any sense of self-control and he has since expressed remorse.

The court heard Victoria had been working as an operating technician at Rotherham District General Hospital and the defendant had been in the Army and had been training to join the prison service.

Mr Hill added that two previous partners of Craig Woodhall had stated he had been possessive, controlling and violent towards them.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told Woodhall: “You relentlessly stabbed your wife Victoria Woodhall to death with a high level of brute force in a public street.”

He added: “You used a large Gurkha knife called a kukri to mercilessly inflict the fatal injuries to the upper body, head and neck of your wife.”

Judge Richardson sentenced Woodhall to a life sentence of 18 years and six months of custody which he must serve before he is considered to be released on licence.

He told Woodhall: “Your conduct could only be descrbed as mercilessly determined, sustained and savage in the extreme.”

*The Sheffield local Domestic Abuse Helpline can be accessed by calling 0808 808 2241 (freephone) Mondays to Fridays 8am – 7pm and Saturdays 9am – 5pm.

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