- Woman jailed for life after fatally stabbing husband in Devon
- Dispute over land sale led to “fit of temper” murder
- Defendant claimed years of abuse, jury found her guilty
It is reported that the homicide occurred during a “fit of temper” at the £800,000 residence of the couple in Devon after their dispute regarding the sale of a parcel of land. Rawle entered a not-guilty plea, asserting that her actions were in self-defense in response to years of violence at the hands of her spouse.
After stabbing her spouse in the back and then watching him die, a 69-year-old woman was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum mandatory term of 17 years.
Prosecutors asserted that Christine Rawle stabbed Ian Rawle, 72, in August 2022 following a dispute at their remote Devon residence.
Judge James Adkin testified that Rawle “violently thrust” a 12.5-inch bladed knife into her husband’s back with the intent to murder him.
Mr. Rawle, according to a previous testimony before the Exeter Crown Court, followed his wife of 27 years for 100 yards while pleading with her to remove the knife. He then succumbed to the wound and died.
“You stated to the police that you were terrified of your husband,” the judge informed Rawle. However, he was a 72-year-old male who was armed with a knife. He requested your assistance. You, however, appear to have declined to do so.”
Throughout the trial, Rawle contended that her spouse had subjected her to years of physical and psychological abuse while attempting to coerce and control her.
She entered a not-guilty plea to the charge of murder, asserting that she was acting in self-defense. However, a unanimous jury found her guilty of the charge.
Rawle was told by Judge Adkin, “Ian was not flawless. According to the evidence, he was stubborn, occasionally irritable, could yell, was set in his ways, and had an antiquated perspective on how he should conduct himself with his wife. However, your depiction of him as a serial domestic abuser was not accurate.
He continued, “Your uncontrollable temper was the primary motive behind the murder of your spouse.”
Prosecutors compared the couple to the quarreling characters in Roald Dahl’s The Twits during the trial, stating that they frequently slapped and shoved one another.
Rawle can be heard in the backseat of the police vehicle during the arrest, as captured on footage released by Devon and Cornwall Police, uttering the words, “He was so cruel.”
She inquires, “How is it possible to love another individual?” “How can you do anything for someone and still have them be so cruel to you?”
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Rawle is overheard later in the footage, stating, “He will come to get me, and he will kill me.”
Barrister Sean Brunton KC stated that the couple had been the subject of multiple police visits throughout the years and that Rawle had previously purportedly stabbed her spouse twice, using a fork and a knife, respectively.
According to a witness, Rawle would boast about adding chili powder to her husband’s undergarments or Viagra to his tea and would also say that he would wipe her behind with his ties on occasion, either intentionally or unintentionally.
Following an argument regarding the sale of a parcel of land, the couple’s £800,000 property near Braunton is rumored to have been the scene of the alleged “fit of temper” that led to the murder.
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