Man jailed for attempting to kill wife in row over him destroying wedding photographs

Leeds Crown Court heard Peter Day told police later that he had been having problems with his wife Julie, who was seeing another man.

Michael Smith, prosecuting, told the court when she arrived on the morning of June 9 he went out, then returned and it was then she realised he had burned wedding photographs.

He said he was concerned their relationship was over and asked her why she had come to the house in St Paulinas Close, Dewsbury.

After she told him it was her house too they began to argue. She went upstairs to change 
and it was then Day armed himself with a kitchen knife with a blade of 20cms and followed 
her.

Mr Smith said Day pushed his wife on the bed and she saw he had a knife. He straddled her but dropped it, only to pick it up and stab her in the chest.

She was screaming and begging him not to hurt her, but he then pulled out the knife, changed his grip so it was held in both hands and “forced it into her chest again”.

“When he pulled out the knife Mrs Day remembers blood spurting out everywhere.”

Her husband left the house and told neighbours he had killed or tried to kill his wife and called the police. He told the operator: “I’ve just tried to kill Julie, I’ve just tried to kill my wife.”

Mr Smith said a neighbour went to help Mrs Day until paramedics arrived.

Her husband was subsequently arrested at Dewsbury station. He told police he had not slept the night before.

After arguing about the burning of the wedding photos he did not remember anything until being on top of her with a knife and blood at the scene. He said he was sorry.

Nicholas Johnson representing Day said it was a spontaneous reaction to the argument in the context of their marital difficulties.

Day, 50, admitted attempting to murder his wife.

Jailing him, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said he accepted the behaviour was out of character but he had armed himself with a knife.