Skip to main content

Jealous boyfriend, 35, is jailed for life for brutally murdering his partner, 26, moments after they had sex by strangling her with a dressing gown cord and stabbing her because he thought she had cheated on him

A jealous boyfriend has been jailed for life after he brutally murdered his partner moments after having sex with her because he thought she had cheated on him, a court has heard.

Drink and drug-fuelled Carl Chadwick, 35, was sentenced to a minimum term of 25 years today after he strangled Sarah Keith, 26, with a dressing gown cord and stabbed her in the heart.

Leeds Crown Court heard he launched the savage assault as revenge because he thought Ms Keith had cheated on him while he was in prison.

It was not confirmed in court either way whether this was the case. 

Drink and drug-fuelled Carl Chadwick, 35, strangled Sarah Keith, 26, with a dressing gown cord and stabbed her in the heart

Drink and drug-fuelled Carl Chadwick, 35, strangled Sarah Keith, 26, with a dressing gown cord and stabbed her in the heart

Chadwick armed himself with the dressing gown cord before having sex with his partner, it was heard.

Afterwards he positioned himself behind Ms Keith and, as she got to her feet, he 'quickly' put the cord behind her neck and strangled her.

To ensure the woman was dead, he then got a knife from the kitchen and stabbed her five times in the heart.

After concluding the heinous attack, it was heard, Chadwick covered her body with a curtain, watched pornography and took cocaine.

The killer intended to flee but ended up wandering Leeds for a number of hours the next day before handing himself into West Yorkshire Police.

Chadwick, who admits murder, appeared in the dock at Leeds Crown Court this morning, ahead of his sentencing later in the day.

Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, said Chadwick has a long-standing history of drug and alcohol misuse and became convinced that Ms Keith had been unfaithful to him.

The prosecutor said: 'On this basis, he developed a settled intention to kill her, thinking about it, on his own account, 'several times a week.'

'Sarah was, of course, oblivious to this and their relationship continued.'

The court heard how the murder took place after the couple had been out drinking at a pub in Leeds on April 12 this year. 

They remained there all afternoon and evening, and continued drinking at a friend's house after closing time before going to Ms Keith's flat at around 1am.

The defendant said he had six or seven pints and also bought a double whisky every time he went to the bar at the pub.

The family of Sarah Keith (pictured) told a court the brutal murder had left them 'broken'

The family of Sarah Keith told a court the brutal murder had left them 'broken'

Mr Sharp said the couple were both 'well in drink' by that time and Chadwick had taken cocaine.

He said: 'Once home, and after the defendant had viewed some pornographic material on his phone, the defendant instigated sexual intercourse with Sarah.'

The court heard they moved from the bedroom to the living room where Chadwick put a duvet down on the floor.

Mr Sharp continued: 'As they made this move the defendant took her dressing gown cord and hid it behind his back, saying to himself 'I'm going to do this', i.e. kill her.

'He positioned himself so he was behind Sarah, in a position where she could not see what he was about to do.'

The fatal attack took place after they had sex.

Mr Sharp said: 'As Sarah got up - she did not have good balance and the defendant was aware of this - he quickly put the cord around her neck and began strangling her.

'The absence of defensive injuries on her shows that she was taken completely off her guard and was unable to put up any resistance.

'He decided to ensure her death by getting a knife from the kitchen and stabbing her to the heart five times.

'The condition of the body post mortem indicated that she was still alive when he did this.'

Mr Sharp said Chadwick formed the intention of running away to Blackpool.

He added: 'However, after some aimless wandering around the centre of Leeds, he then handed himself in at Elland Road shortly after 3pm.

'He made comprehensive admissions to desk staff and later in formal interview.

'The police went to the flat and their observations confirmed the accuracy of his admissions.'

Chadwick was jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 25 years at Leeds Crown Court (pictured) today

Chadwick was jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 25 years at Leeds Crown Court today

Following his arrest, Chadwick pleaded guilty to murder but he denies that there is a sexual motive to the killing.

Chadwick gave evidence before the court this morning.

He said: 'I am really sorry for what happened. I did love Sarah no matter what people heard or see in this court.

'She did a lot for me and so did her family. I just want to express that I am deeply sorry for what I have done.'

In a heart-breaking victim impact statement, read out in court, Sarah's father Andrew Keith said their family were left 'broken' following the brutal murder.

Mr Keith said Sarah's daughter Emma was unable to understand what happened and still asked if she was going to get better until her ashes were returned to the family.

The statement, read to the court by prosecutor Jonathan Sharp, Mr Keith said: 'Carl, what you have done has broken my family apart.

'We are all broken, especially Emma, Sarah's daughter.

'You have broken her heart. She does not understand what has happened.

'Until her ashes were returned to us, she asked if her mum was going to get better.

'She could not understand that her mum was not getting better and would not be coming home to her.'

Chadwick and Ms Keith had been in a relationship for four years, the court heard.

During that time Chadwick and been controlling and violent towards her.

Mr Keith said: 'We thought you were a nice bloke. Over the time you spent with our daughter the truth came out.

'We are heartbroken and devastated that our daughter was taken from us in the way that she was.

'We are all so lost without Sarah and are struggling without her being with us.

'She was loved and will be missed by her daughter, family and friends.'

Jailing Chadwick, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said: 'The victim personal statement speaks of the loss Sarah's family have suffered.

'You have destroyed the lives of Sarah's family and for them it is a life sentence.

'They will never be able to forget what you did in taking the life of someone they loved and valued so much.'

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o