Boyfriend killed partner days after release from jail
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A BOYFRIEND was jailed for life yesterday after murdering his partner days after being released from prison for attacking her.
Angela Craddock, 40, suffered a “sustained, frenzied and fatal” attack at her home in Howley, Warrington, Cheshire, last April.
William Smart, 55, left her with over 100 injuries after punching, kicking and stamping on her – and battering her with a guitar and a broken drumstick.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that as “intelligent, artistic and compassionate” Ms Craddock lay dying, Smart left their flat and went to the chip shop.
Just seven days before the fatal attack he had been released from prison after a previous act of vicious domestic violence.
He has now been jailed for life, with a minimum of 19 years, after a jury convicted him of murder.
Judge Neil Flewitt told Smart: “You have shown no remorse for what you have done and your actions throughout have been motivated by self-interest.”
Hailing the victim’s kindness, the judge added: “You were a beneficiary of that kindness when she let you share her home on your release from prison.
“Your response was to beat her to death in an act of repeated and gratuitous violence.”
Prosecutor Anne Whyte QC said five days before the murder Smart bought flowers for his partner and requested a question Vicious: William Smart, above, killed Angela Craddock, right mark be written on the card accompanying the blooms. Asked why, he replied: “When I get home I’m going to ask who the flowers were from and when she cannot tell me I’m going to beat her up.”
The jury heard on the day Ms Craddock died, Smart flew into a rage after she went shopping for Easter decorations but did not buy food.
Leaving her dying, he went first to a chip shop before buying alcohol in a shop and telling staff: “My missus has attacked me. I think she’s on the floor dead.”
A customer asked staff to call police. Smart went out into the street ranting, and was refused a drink in a pub – before being arrested afterwards.
Cheshire Police later found Ms Craddock naked on the floor of her home under a blanket. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Warrington Hospital.
She was so badly injured that she had to be identified by her fingerprints.
Following his arrest, Smart abused his dead lover in a rant to police, adding: “I’ve got rid of her at last. She’s a rat, nothing but a rat. Is it dead? Have I killed another rat?”
He admitted killing Ms Craddock, but said he could not remember how it happened as he had passed out.
Outside court, Detective Inspector Kate Tomlinson said: “During my 24 years in the police service I have never come across a case of such brutality.”