Abusive man who stabbed nurse wife to death in front of horrified neighbours jailed for life

Craig Woodhall, 41, murdered his estranged wife Victoria Woodhall, 32, stabbing her multiple times with a Gurkha-style machete knife outside the home they had previously shared in Windsor Crescent, Barnsley, on March 29, this year.

Mother-of-three Mrs Woodhall, who worked as a nurse at Rotherham General Hospital and was due to start work in the intensive care unit caring for Covid19 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 near by, who witnessed the sustained attack.

Sheffield Crown Court heard 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 behaviours 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 prior 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 call operator it was not a policing matter.

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

Mr Hill QC 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 the Ghurka 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 footage, which was too graphic to be shown in court, captured the defendant attacking Mrs Woodhall, before stepping away and leaving her to bleed to death.

Neighbours fought desperately to save her and get help as Woodhall claimed: "she deserved it, she's been winding me up all day".

The court heard how the couple met online and began a relationship in September 2013.

Throughout the relationship Woodhall was described as controlling and violent to his wife. He would often demand to see her mobile phone when she returned home from work and had also pushed her to the floor during an argument, injuring her in the process.

A friend of Mrs Woodhall had also reportedly asked her if she was happy to go ahead with her marriage to the defendant in September last year, only for her to state there would be "consequences" if she didn't.

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

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

He said: "There is a lack of premeditation. This was an incident that suddenly flared up with dreadful consequences."

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

He said: "You relentlessly stabbed your wife to death with a high level of brutal force in a public street in full view of several neighbours.

"Your conduct was merciless, determined, sustained and savage in the extreme."

"You blatantly intended to kill your wife and you left her for dead in the street.

"All she wanted to do was see her children."

Describing Victoria as "popular and bubbly", her father said: "Craig Woodhall has robbed us off our beautiful and intelligent daughter and ripped the heart out of our family.

"There is nothing worse in life than having to arrange a funeral for your own child and go through her things.

"No sentence will ever bring Vicky back."