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Robert Alexander was jailed for life after murdering his wife, Christina Alexander, following years of controlling and violent behaviour, a court heard.
Robert Alexander was jailed for life after stabbing his wife, Christina Alexander, at least 78 times at their home in Tamworth, Staffordshire, with a judge concluding that he intended to kill her and was aware she had been planning to leave him.
Alexander, 66, murdered the 60-year-old nurse on 23 June 2025 after the couple had been married for about six years. He was later convicted of murder by a jury and sentenced at Stafford Crown Court to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 18 years and 298 days after time already spent on remand.
The court heard that the killing came against a background of controlling and coercive behaviour, particularly involving finances, as well as previous violence within the relationship.
Judge Avik Mukherjee said evidence presented during the trial showed Alexander was aware that Christina had been making plans to leave him.
By 2025, she had consulted a solicitor and begun making financial arrangements to live independently, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
The court was told that Christina had previously spoken of living under a “constant threat of violence”. Prosecutors also said footage recorded by a camera in her car captured her telling her sister: “I’ll probably be dead before then.”
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that Christina's plans to leave the relationship formed an important part of the evidence examined during the murder trial.
Judge Mukherjee told Alexander that he was satisfied the defendant intended to kill his wife because of the severity and nature of the attack.
Christina was attacked at the couple's home in the Dosthill area of Tamworth.
She suffered at least 78 stab wounds and was also strangled and struck on the head with a tin. The jury heard that she sustained catastrophic injuries to her face, neck, body, arms and legs.
Alexander later told police that he had “disposed” of his wife after attacking her in the hallway and kitchen.
During sentencing, Judge Mukherjee described the violence as a “repeated and sustained” attack.
He told Alexander: “I am sure that you intended to kill Christina due to the extent of the injuries that you inflicted upon her and also the ways in which you attacked her.”
The judge also ruled that the murder had taken place against a background of controlling and coercive behaviour.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Alexander had previously been convicted of battery after police were called in September 2020.
The earlier incident involved Alexander placing Christina in a chokehold, according to prosecutors.
The CPS said that when officers spoke to Alexander following that incident, he expressed concern that Christina knew the PIN for his bank card.
In June 2021, Christina told police she was living under a “constant threat of violence”.
The evidence presented to the court showed a relationship in which prosecutors said Christina had experienced violence and control before she began preparing to build an independent life.
Alexander also harmed himself twice in the weeks before the murder. Psychiatric experts later concluded that those actions were intended to manipulate or control Christina, prosecutors said.
After the second incident, Alexander was discharged from hospital. Days later, Christina was killed.
At Stafford Crown Court, Judge Mukherjee sentenced Alexander to life imprisonment.
Because of the time he had already spent in custody on remand, he must serve at least 18 years and 298 days before he can become eligible to apply for release.
The judge stressed that reaching the end of the minimum term would not mean Alexander would automatically leave prison.
There was no guarantee that he would ever be released, the court heard.
Before the sentence was passed, personal impact statements were read on behalf of Christina's family and friends.
“The taking of a life is a terrible thing – not only because of the life which is cut short but because of all the other lives that are damaged as well,” Judge Mukherjee said.
Following the sentencing, Christina's brother, Neil, paid tribute to his sister and remembered her as someone who had wanted to help others throughout her life.
He said that from an early age, she had hoped to follow in their mother's footsteps and become a nurse.
Christina's family said they were now trying to hold on to the happier memories they shared with her.
Neil said she had always been there for her brothers and sisters.
“Robert can cowardly take away my sister's life but he can never take away our memories,” he said.
For Christina's family, the life sentence brings the criminal proceedings to an important stage, but it cannot undo the loss of a sister, nurse and loved one whose death has left a lasting impact on those closest to her.
