Family of tragic nurse say: Don’t stand for abuse

Brutal husband gets life for her murder

THE FAMILY of a South Yorkshire nurse brutally murdered by her estranged husband have urged anyone suffering from domestic abuse not to suffer in silence after her killer was jailed for life.

Victoria Woodhall, 32, was repeatedly stabbed by possessive and controlling Craig Woodhall, 41, outside the home they had previously shared in Windsor Crescent, Barnsley, on March 29 this year.

The mother- of- three, who was a nurse at Rotherham General Hospital and who had been due to start work in the intensive- care unit looking after Covid- 19 patients, suffered multiple stab wounds to her face, head, neck, arms, shoulders, hands and back.

She died at the scene in front of horrified neighbours, including young children nearby, who witnessed the sustained attack.

In a statement, her family said: “We hope this message might save even one other family from having to endure the nightmare we have endured following Vicky’s murder.”

Sheffield Crown Court heard yesterday how Woodhall, who had served in the Army for 18 years before leaving his post due to ill health, had been physically violent to all four of his former partners and on one occasion put his arms around the throat of one woman during an argument.

Prosecuting, James Hill QC said: “This gives some insight into perhaps what was to happen with Victoria Woodhall.

“There is a catalogue of behaviour

described as possessive and controlling.” On the day of her murder, Mrs Woodhall drove to the couple’s home in Windsor Crescent to see her children after she had left the family home two days earlier, following the breakdown of the marriage.

When she got to the house the defendant called the police, stating she was breaking the new national lockdown rules in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, only to be told by the police operator it was not a policing matter.

An argument followed and Mrs Woodhall began recording the defendant on her mobile phone as he was trying to get her arrested.

Mr Hill said: “This was the matter that caused the defendant’s anger to erupt.

“As Victoria filmed, the defendant opened the front door in just his shorts. He was brandishing a Gurkha knife.

“He chased her away from the house and she can be heard asking him if he was joking.

“CCTV footage then shows the brutal nature of the attack on Victoria.”

The film was too graphic to be shown in court.

Neighbours fought desperately to save Mrs Woodhall while the defendant said: “She deserved it. She’s been winding me up all day.”

The court heard how throughout the relationship Woodhall was controlling and violent to his wife.

He would demand to see her mobile phone when she returned from work and had also pushed her to the floor during one argument, leaving her injured.

Woodhall pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife and possessing an offensive weapon.

In mitigation, Andrew O’Byrne QC, said the defendant, who had no previous convictions, had expressed genuine remorse.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC sentenced Woodhall to life in prison with a minimum of 18 years and six months.

He told him: “You blatantly intended to kill your wife and you left her for dead in the street.”

We hope this message might save another family from this nightmare. The family of murdered nurse Victoria Woodhall.