School head gets life for killing his wife and her lover
A FORMER head teacher will spend at least 31 years behind bars for murdering his estranged wife and her partner in a New Year’s Day stabbing frenzy.
Rhys Hancock killed wife Helen, 39, and Martin Griffiths at his former marital home, then called police saying: “I’ve just murdered my wife in her bed.”
Derby Crown Court heard father- of- three Hancock, 40, inflicted 66 injuries on his PE teacher wife and 37 wounds on Mr Griffiths, 48, a father of two.
A senior paramedic called the scene in Duffield, Derbyshire, a bloodbath and the most violent incident he had seen in more than 17 years in the service.
Hancock, who was jailed for life yesterday, admitted two counts of murder at a previous hearing.
The court heard he told his mother Denise of his plans before travelling the
10 miles to his former home.
He told her he would get 25 or 30 years in prison and be released in his 60s.
Denise Hancock called 999 to warn
police her son had two knives and was on his way to Duffield. The operator urged her to warn Helen but she said “she had no idea what she would say”, the court heard. Fifteen minutes later Hancock called police and confessed to stabbing the lovers. Prosecutor Michael Auty QC said yesterday: “The attack was merciless... and the intention was always... and only to kill.” Clive Stockwell QC, defending Hancock, said: “He is very alive to the fact that by his actions he has deprived his own children of
the presence of their mother for the rest of their lives in the knowledge... that it was their father who inflicted that bereavement on them.”
In a victim statement read to the court Mrs Hancock’s father, Trevor Almey, said: “Helen’s death has left a huge hole in our lives. I never thought for one second I would outlive any of my children.”
Her sister Jane Morley said of the children: “They now have no mum to cuddle them when they’re upset. They have been left without any parents.”
A statement by Mr Griffiths’ mother, Jacqueline, said: “Every aspect of our lives was touched by Martin. I have nightmares.”