‘What is wrong with me?’
A HUSBAND frantically stabbed his primary school teacher wife to death after she discovered he had sick indecent images of a child.
Adam Parkin’s brutal attack on his partner Julie was so vicious, a tip of the knife became embedded in her skull as he stabbed and slashed her 27 times in the head, face, neck, back and chest.
Newcastle Crown Court was told Julie desperately tried to defend herself as the 35-year-old rained down the blows in the lounge of their Sunderland home before he dragged her unconscious and heavily bleeding body through to the kitchen.
He then ran from the house and drove to a nearby Southwick Police Station, where he was heard to shout “I have just killed my wife”, prosecutors said.
Paramedics attended the couple’s home on Kirkwall Close and found the West Boldon Primary School teacher lying face down and suffering from 27 stab and slash wounds.
Frantic efforts were made to save 39-year-old Julie but she was pronounced dead at the scene soon after.
A pathologist later revealed she died of a “combination of blood loss and interference with respiration”.
Now, Parkin, who worked for the Crown Prosecution Service in their CPS Direct department at the time, has been jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 23 years after he previously pleaded guilty to the murder of Julie, the attempted murder of another person, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and three counts of making indecent images of a child.
Locking him up, Judge Paul Sloan QC, the Recorder of Newcastle, said: “You deliberately armed yourself with a knife, which you carried with you from the kitchen to the living room.
“The attack on Julie Parkin was extremely brutal. You targeted her head, neck, upper back, and chest, repeatedly striking her with a knife.
“The attack would have caused her considerable pain and suffering, albeit, mercifully, for a relatively short period.
“The attack occurred in the matrimonial home, where Julie Parkin should be safe and it involved a gross breach of trust and power.”
The court was told the couple had been married for nine years prior to the murder and there had been no issues of domestic violence reported in the past, although Parkin had become “controlling and aggressive” in recent months.
Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, said that on June 26 this year, Parkin had been at a work meeting in London before arriving home in the evening.
The prosecutor said that, after he returned, he was confronted by Julie, who had discovered he had a sexual interest in a child and had been making indecent images.
The pair were caught on a neighbour’s CCTV leaving the home shortly after, and returned shortly before midnight, the court heard.
Parkin is thought to then have packed a bag to leave as his wife sat in the living room when he suddenly snapped and armed himself with a knife, which had a 20inch blade, Mr Smith said.
“After returning to the house at 11.54pm within 12 minutes the defendant had committed the brutal attack,” Mr Smith added.
Paramedics were called to the scene as Parkin fled the house and made his way to the nearby police station.
Mr Smith said: “Two members of public were waiting inside when he entered. One of them heard him shout ‘I have just killed my wife.’”
Parkin also had slash wounds to his hands and he was taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery to treat severed tendons, before he was arrested. He later told officers: “She [Julie] was so sad when she found out what I really am. I should have killed myself. What is wrong with me?”
Mr Smith said Julie’s death had a devastating impact on her family and the pupils she taught.
In a statement read to the court, her mother Patricia Oxley said: “I cannot find the words to fully explain how I feel. Anger, grief and despair are simply inadequate.”
Paul Greaney QC, mitigating, said Parkin had loved his wife, recognised the devastation he had caused and had pleaded guilty.
Judge Sloan QC said the discovery of the indecent images meant Parkin knew his “world would come crashing down around him”.
As well as being jailed for life, Parkin was also indefinitely made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register.
HUSBAND JAILED FOR LIFE AFTER STABBING WIFE TO DEATH