‘I turned into a monster’ - Leeds businessman recounts how he killed his partner

A BUSINESSMAN told a jury he “turned into a monster” when he stabbed his partner to death in an explosion of rage during a row after she had moved out of their family home.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Oct 2014, 09:59 BST
Police at the house in Rawdon, where a court heard Pauline Butler was found dead.Police at the house in Rawdon, where a court heard Pauline Butler was found dead.
Police at the house in Rawdon, where a court heard Pauline Butler was found dead.

John Butler described the moment he caused the death of his long term partner Pauline as a “Jekyll and Hyde” moment.

Butler, 62, boss of Kettley’s Furniture Centre in Yeadon, Leeds, gave evidence yesterday at his trial where he denies murdering the mother of their three sons at her flat in Cherry Lea Court, Rawdon, on April 14 this year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Butler told Leeds Crown Court that he was “criminally responsible for her injuries” but denied that he wanted to harm her.

John ButlerJohn Butler
John Butler

He wept as he gave evidence and described how had always loved Mrs Butler.

Butler, of Larkfield Road, Rawdon, descrobed how his wife had threatened him with a knife on three occasion in recent years.

A month before the incident Mrs Butler had moved out of the family home and told Butler she no longer loved him.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The businessman said he had argued with Mrs Butler shortly before the fatal incident when he had gone round to her home to fix her microwave.

Pauline Butler, 61, who died of blood loss from stab wounds. ROSS PARRYPauline Butler, 61, who died of blood loss from stab wounds. ROSS PARRY
Pauline Butler, 61, who died of blood loss from stab wounds. ROSS PARRY

He said he grabbed the knife as Mrs Butler swore at him and ordered him out of her home.

He said: “It was an explosion. It was like two hundred thousand volts running through your body. It was like an alien took over your mind. I turned into a monster.”

He added: “She was rising up from the chair and grabbing and clawing and I just remember my hand swinging over.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He recalled swinging the knife twice before Mrs Butler stood up and pushed him back into the centre of the room.

He tripped into a small table and she fell onto her back with him on top of her - the knife was in her chest.

“It was like waking up from a blackout,” he said.

The court heard it was over in seconds and he had no recollection of how she received any other injuries.

Butler said he took the knife and went into the bathroom, adding that he never intended to kill, or seriously injure, his partner.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Describing his feelings for her, he said: “I always loved Pauline, right from the beginning. She had a lovely face, a lovely profile. We were just the perfect couple.”

He added: “I just wanted her to be happy. She could have had anything.”

The court has heard Kettley’s Furniture, in Yeadon, featured in BBC Two show The Fixer in 2012.

The show stars businesswoman Alex Polizzi and attempted to revive the firm’s fortunes.

The trial continues