A 'BULLYING and violent' new bride has been jailed for life after she was convicted of murdering her solicitor husband.

Sharon Edwards, 42, stabbed to death criminal defence lawyer David Edwards, 51, at their home in Chorley, Lancashire, just two months after they married in Las Vegas.

Jailing her at Manchester Crown Court for a minimum of 20 years, Mr Justice William Davis told the defendant she had "robbed people of a decent man".

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Mr Edwards was the victim of "forceful bullying" and had suffered at the hands of Edwards during the "turbulent" year-long relationship in which he was regularly beaten and belittled, the trial heard.

It culminated in him being fatally stabbed in the heart with a kitchen knife on August 23 last year.

Friends and colleagues warned the "besotted" solicitor to leave domineering and possessive Edwards after he began turning up on the court circuit with black eyes, scratches and bite marks - even disclosing to one that his wife had hit him with a coffee table and an ashtray.

Lancashire Telegraph:

The court heard that part of Edwards's rage was because her new husband had been made redundant and was later sacked, having previously held a partnership status at Stanley H Cross & Co which was to be taken over by Kevills.

The trial heard that the killing was to be the second attack in as many successive days in which Edwards had used a knife in anger against Mr Edwards - who she knew would never fight back or call the police.

After he was found dead, Mr Edwards's bruised and cut body was to further reveal the extent of the regular assaults.

Lancashire Telegraph:

It showed 60 external injuries, of which 30 were incised or prod wounds, including stab wounds to his thigh, knee, finger and a shallow wound to his scalp.

Edwards claimed his injuries were a result of her alcoholic husband falling over when in drink.

In her defence, she claimed Mr Edwards walked into the knife she was holding in a row about tax credits only hours after they returned from an all-expenses paid Spanish holiday.

The jury, which began deliberating on Monday afternoon, disbelieved her version of events and unanimously convicted her of murder.

Before sentencing, the court heard that Edwards had previous convictions and cautions related to domestic abuse including a 2004 attack on a former partner who was bitten on the forearm and punched to the side of the face.

Mr Justice Davis said Mr Edwards was "a hugely valued member of the community in Chorley and elsewhere".

He read out part of a letter he received from a magistrate who sat in Chorley where Mr Edwards would regularly represent clients.

It stated: "Over the years we have come to know David well. He was a very engaging person with a wry grin.

"He was always proud of his reputation and integrity as an officer of the court.

"His tragic death has affected every member of the Chorley bench, and I am sure the wider legal fraternity, very deeply.

"David was held in extremely high regard by every member of the Chorley bench."

Addressing the defendant, the judge said: "It is clear that was a view widely held and your bullying of him, which ended with this tragic death, has robbed people of a decent man.

"You are someone who has attacked people in the past. You have a bullying and violent nature."

He said he was "quite satisfied" that it was not the first time she had attacked Mr Edwards with a knife and that over the preceding months she had assaulted him on more than one occasion.

The judge added: "This deadly attack was the culmination of long-term bullying by you on this respected member of the community."

He said he accepted that she did not intend to kill him but that she certainly meant to cause really serious harm.

Edwards showed no emotion on delivery of the verdict or when she was led from the dock.

Her barrister, David Fish QC, said the mother-of-four was "at a very low ebb" and had "lost everything".

Detective Chief Inspector Dean Holden from the Lancashire Force Major Investigation Team said: “I would like to thank the jury for their decision today.

“This investigation highlights how domestic abuse is not exclusive to age, sex, status or profession. David Edwards had been a successful solicitor and a loving father to his young daughter but his life was tragically cut short after a culmination of months of abuse and violent outbursts by Sharon Edwards.

“The especially sad thing about this case is that Mr Edwards was embarrassed by the fact he was being abused by his partner, a woman, and seemed to just accept his situation, ignoring advice from friends to seek help. Had he done so, I imagine we wouldn’t be at court today.

Lancashire Telegraph:

“Sharon Edwards not only abused David verbally and physically, she has also denied her guilt and therefore put his family through the ordeal of having to sit through a trial, listening to the horrendous home life he had endure, which tragically resulted in his demise and subsequent death.

“It’s too late for David Edwards to get help but if you or anyone you know is suffering domestic abuse at the hands of your partner, help is out there.”