Man stabbed his wife to death before heading to Asda to buy replacement knives

A former soldier who stabbed his wife and left her for dead before travelling to London Euston with a self-inflicted wound has been sentenced to life behind bars. Philip Dafter killed his wife Diana Dafter, 36, at their home in Lawrence Court, Northampton, on October 7 last year. The court heard the pair had got into marital difficulties because of Dafter’s mental health. On the day of Diana’s death, the pair had been arguing about a comment she had reportedly made about his car. Judge David Herbert KC said Dafter then picked up a knife with ‘murderous intent’ before stabbing Diana five times with such force his blade broke. After killing his wife, the 33-year-old went upstairs and tried to stab himself. But noticed the broken blade, prompting him to travel to a nearby Asda store to buy new knives. Phillip Datfer buying knives in Asda (Image: Northamptonshire Police) After returning home, with his wife now lying dead in the property, Dafter drank a whisky and drove to Northampton train station, boarding a service bound for London Euston. Once the train arrived at its destination, Dafter asked a conductor if he could speak to a police officer. ‘Why?’ the conductor asked. ‘Because I am evil and a bad man,’ Dafter replied.   Police found him drunk and bleeding with 10 knife wounds to his abdomen at Euston station. He told officers he had killed his wife and police were sent to their home address, where Diana’s body was found. Philip Dafter has been jailed (Image: Northamptonshire Police) During his trial, Dafter denied murder but admitted to manslaughter, arguing loss of control and diminished responsibility. Jurors rejected this and found him guilty of his wife’s murder. At Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday, Dafter was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years, taking into account time already spent in custody. The judge said the final moments of Diana’s life would have been “utterly terrifying”.  He said: “You picked up a knife in the kitchen and attacked your wife with murderous intent. Those last minutes of her life would have been utterly terrifying. “You violated the trust and security of your marriage and murdered Diana Dafter in her own home. It was a sustained attack and you did nothing to help her, nor call the emergency services.’ Diana Dafter walking home on the day of her death (Image: Northamptonshire Police) Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Adam Pendlebury from Northamptonshire Police, said: ‘Today, it’s really important to recognise that Diana Dafter was, and is, so much more than this man’s victim. ‘She was a loving person, daughter and friend. A student nurse with a real passion for care, hardworking, and someone very easy to get along with. ‘Her life and bright future was cut short by Phillip Dafter in a violent and prolonged attack and though today’s sentence will be of little comfort to her family and those that loved her, I hope it will help them to know that the man who did this will now spend an exceptionally long time in prison. ‘This is an utterly tragic case and a stark reminder of why tackling violence against women and girls remains a matter of priority for Northamptonshire Police. ‘My thoughts remain with Diana’s family and I hope today has also offered them some semblance of closure after this lengthy court process.”