Justice system 'failed' woman murdered by former boyfriend free on bail

Kevin Sainsbury was told he must serve at least 25 years in prison after a jury at Nottingham Crown Court found him unanimously guilty of the murder of mother-of-two Karen Brookes.

At the time of the brutal attack on November 12 last year, 51-year-old Sainsbury, who had been in a relationship with Ms Brookes for around 15 years, had been granted bail by magistrates after he was arrested and charged with threatening to kill her.

Her family said in a statement released through Leicestershire Police that the killing of "vibrant" Ms Brookes could have been avoided had Sainsbury not been freed just a month before he went on to kill her. They said: "We feel that Karen was let down by the justice system prior to her death.

During the nine-day trial the jury heard Sainsbury, who denied murder, could not cope with the fact that Ms Brookes, 37, wanted to end their relationship.

After months of tormenting her, he followed her to her workplace in Barwell, Leicestershire, and stabbed her as she sat in her car.

Sentencing him, Judge Michael Stokes, QC, told Sainsbury he had carried out a "truly appalling crime''.